My name is Amanda Gary, I was born an raised in Iowa. I am the mother of two beautiful girls, Arianna (9) and Callie (4). After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, I packed my oldest daughter and I up and headed to North Carolina where I begin my teaching career. I have now been teaching in North Carolina for six years. It was in my third year of teaching that I decided I wanted to "do more" to become a better teacher for my daughters, students, families, and coworkers. I applied to the NLGL program in order to grow as a leader and educator both in my classroom and in my school. Through this program I have learned the power of literacy, leadership, and research. Once I graduate, I plan to stay in the classroom for a few more years so I can implement the skills and practices I've learned to improve my teaching, as well as offer my students authentic learning experiences.