Michele believes in providing students with an environment that promotes and values multilingual and multicultural growth.  She began her career teaching a K/1 multiage bilingual class.  Later, she worked to transform K-5 English language learner pull-out services to a sheltered instruction model in a suburban school district, where she also taught 1st and 2nd grade English learners in a multiage setting.  As a 2009 Golden Apple Award recipient, Michele works with the Golden Apple Foundation on projects that impact Chicago area teachers.  She has spent over twelve years developing curricular materials and researching best practices for English learner instruction. In addition to chasing after her own bilingual toddler, Michele is a tireless advocate for bilingual families.