Love
The Story Behind LitSteps
A Love of Learning
I've loved books and stories for as long as I can remember. For every problem I've encountered, I've turned to books for answers. In stressful times, books have been my refuge. In joyful moments, they've deepened my sense of wonder.
The Inspiration for LitSteps
Over the years, I've taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, Third, and Fourth Grade, English Language Learners, Special Education students, struggling readers, and students reading above grade level. Every child I taught helped shape the educator I became.
Building Strong Learning Foundations
Teaching thousands of children gave me a deep understanding of how learning develops. Along the way, I came to believe that every child deserves a joyful beginning, one that builds confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. That belief became the foundation of LitSteps.
Background
I grew up in New York City, the daughter of immigrant parents, and attended a Greek-American school from kindergarten through middle school. After graduating from the Bronx High School of Science, I earned a degree in English Literature and Fine Arts from SUNY Albany.
While studying advertising and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology, I realized something important: my heart belonged in education. That realization led me to earn a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from New York University.
For more than twenty years, I taught in Fairfax County Public Schools in Northern Virginia while continuing to deepen my understanding of early literacy through the Reading and Writing Institutes at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Every experience shaped the way I think about children and learning. Along the way, I came to believe that early learning should be joyful, connected, and built one little step at a time.
Family
Becoming a parent changed the way I understood how young children learn.
Watching my son explore the world through curiosity, conversation, books, and everyday experiences taught me lessons no university or classroom ever could. I discovered that learning doesn't happen only during planned activities. It grows through connection, shared experiences, and the countless little moments families create together.
Those early years strengthened not only my understanding of childhood, but also the lifelong bond my son and I continue to share today.
Teacher
Over the years, I've taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, Third, and Fourth Grade, English Language Learners, Special Education students, Reading, and Pre-K through Sixth Grade Art.
Every child taught me something new.
Teaching thousands of young learners deepened my understanding of how literacy develops and reminded me that every child grows in their own way and at their own pace. Those experiences became the foundation for LitSteps and my belief that every child deserves an early learning experience that inspires confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Creator
I've always had a wide range of interests, but they all seem to lead back to the same place: creativity, connection, and learning.
I've always loved both art and writing. I studied fine arts and creative writing in college, and over the years I've spent countless hours pursuing both. Today, I write and illustrate stories for children, bringing the world of LitSteps and the Piglits to life through playful characters and illustrations.
I'd love to share more of my illustration work with you.
The Story of the Piglits
Art, books, teaching, and storytelling have always been woven together in my life. I value individuality, creativity, and connection, and those passions eventually found a home in LitSteps and the Piglits.
As LitSteps grew, the Piglits became more than characters. They became friendly learning companions, encouraging children to explore, wonder, and celebrate every little step along the way.
Each Piglit has a unique personality, and together they help create a learning experience that's playful, encouraging, and full of heart.