About Mrs. Cruz
I was one of the lucky teachers selected to open Baldwin Elementary four years ago. I am so thankful that I am still working on the best team with the best faculty in Austin!
I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but I grew up in Clear Lake which is just outside of Houston. I graduated summa cum laude from St. Edward's University in 2008 with my degree in education. I became a student again and am currently working towards earning my master's degree in reading education at Texas State University.
Although we went to the same tiny college, I met my husband, Kyle, after we both had graduated. We got married in June of 2010 and soon after became pet parents to our adorable puppy, Mackenzie. She is a Ridgeback mix and recently turned three. She has become much more civilized since she famously ate my entire classroom's homework when she was a puppy. Yes, the teacher's dog ate the students' homework.
Family is very important to me. I grew up with both of my parents and two older brothers, Mike and Jim. My mom works as a school administrator in Dickinson ISD. My dad is an electrical engineer and works for Eastman Chemical. They live in Houston. My brother, Mike and his wife, Vanessa live in Katy and are pet parents to two yorkies, Maddie and Bella. Jim is married to Rebekah and they have two little boys, Gus and Jed. Jim and his family live in Boston. Now that my brothers and I are grown and live apart from each other, we truly cherish the times that we are able to get together. My husband, Kyle, grew up in Denver which is where his mom still lives. His sister, Kellye and her fiance, David, live in Hutto and we are lucky that we get to see them often. My favorite way to spend weekends and holidays is gathering together with my family. This is especially true when we can play a rousing and competitive game of Chicken Foot Dominoes.
I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but I grew up in Clear Lake which is just outside of Houston. I graduated summa cum laude from St. Edward's University in 2008 with my degree in education. I became a student again and am currently working towards earning my master's degree in reading education at Texas State University.
Although we went to the same tiny college, I met my husband, Kyle, after we both had graduated. We got married in June of 2010 and soon after became pet parents to our adorable puppy, Mackenzie. She is a Ridgeback mix and recently turned three. She has become much more civilized since she famously ate my entire classroom's homework when she was a puppy. Yes, the teacher's dog ate the students' homework.
Family is very important to me. I grew up with both of my parents and two older brothers, Mike and Jim. My mom works as a school administrator in Dickinson ISD. My dad is an electrical engineer and works for Eastman Chemical. They live in Houston. My brother, Mike and his wife, Vanessa live in Katy and are pet parents to two yorkies, Maddie and Bella. Jim is married to Rebekah and they have two little boys, Gus and Jed. Jim and his family live in Boston. Now that my brothers and I are grown and live apart from each other, we truly cherish the times that we are able to get together. My husband, Kyle, grew up in Denver which is where his mom still lives. His sister, Kellye and her fiance, David, live in Hutto and we are lucky that we get to see them often. My favorite way to spend weekends and holidays is gathering together with my family. This is especially true when we can play a rousing and competitive game of Chicken Foot Dominoes.
These are a few of my favorite things...
Hobbies: Singing in the choir at church, game nights with family and friends, long walks with Mackenzie
Restaurants: P. F. Changs, Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks
Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Stores: Teacher Heaven, Target, and Hobby Lobby
Places: Portofino, Italy; Maui, Hawaii; Boston, MA; Houston area; Home on the couch with Mackenzie and Kyle
Color: Pink
TV Shows: How I Met Your Mother,The Big Bang Theory, The Newsroom
Children's Books: School Story by Andrew Clements, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, Love that Dog by Sharon Creech, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg, Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and the Llama Llama Red Pajama series by Anna Dewdney.
Restaurants: P. F. Changs, Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks
Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Stores: Teacher Heaven, Target, and Hobby Lobby
Places: Portofino, Italy; Maui, Hawaii; Boston, MA; Houston area; Home on the couch with Mackenzie and Kyle
Color: Pink
TV Shows: How I Met Your Mother,The Big Bang Theory, The Newsroom
Children's Books: School Story by Andrew Clements, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, Love that Dog by Sharon Creech, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg, Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and the Llama Llama Red Pajama series by Anna Dewdney.