Karin Brittain loves teaching because it is a profession that allows her to be creative and make meaningful connections with young learners. Karin grew up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and obtained her bachelor’s degree at the University of British Columbia. After graduating, she served as a school-based AmeriCorps volunteer in Providence, Rhode Island. It was her experience in the AmeriCorps that influenced her choice to pursue a career in education. Karin also had the desire to explore the world, and after earning her TESOL certificate from Western Washington University, started teaching ESL overseas. Karin began by going back to Canada, followed by France (Normandy and Bordeaux), and then Madrid, Spain. Eventually, Karin returned to school to earn her Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction through a program at George Mason University specialized in teaching in international schools. She continued on to teach second grade at a small international school in South Korea. Karin now holds teaching credentials for grades k-12 (elementary, ESL, and English) in Virginia and California. Karin loves reading, writing, learning languages, and outdoor activities such as hiking and paddle boarding.