I teach fifth grade in a small public school just outside of Washington, D.C. My students forever amaze me with their abilities and creativity. When I am not busy with my schoolwork, you might find me hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains or at Assateague Island National Seashore. Last summer, I visited Alaska for the first time and was amazed by the wide open natural beauty. Seeing grizzly bears and wolves in their natural habitat was surely a highlight of my life.