My name is Kelly O'Brien. I am a native Floridian! I was born in Clearwater, FL and moved to Sarasota when I was two! I went to Gocio Elementary for kindergarten. For first through sixth grades, I went to St. Martha's Catholic School. After 6 years in private school, I finally got back into the public school system! I attended McIntosh Middle School for 7th and 8th grades. For high school, I attended SARASOTA HIGH....GO SAILORS! After high school, I went on to college at Manatee Community College, where I received my AA degree. From MCC, I went to the University of South Florida....GO BULLS, where I received a BS degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. In 1999, I went back to school to get my master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction through National Louis University.
My first teaching job was at Gibsonton Elementary School, in Hillsborough County. I taught 2nd grade for four years. After 4 years in Hillsborough County, I decided to come home to Sarasota. I have been teaching in Sarasota County for the past 13 years. I taught first grade ESOL for a year and kindergarten for 10 years at Tuttle Elementary. I have been at Tatum Ridge for the past three years, with 2 years being in kindergarten and this past year as our Early Intervention teacher. I really missed the classroom, so I was thrilled when I was asked to come back and join the Kindergarten Team for next school year!
I have one son, Cody. He is just finishing up kindergarten this year and will start first grade in the fall. He loves being at Tatum Ridge with his mom. I thought being a mom of a kinder kid would be easy after teaching K for some may years, but it's very different being on the parent side rather than the teacher side. Below is a picture of Cody at Busch Gardens over winter break 2005. Of course he has to like turtles since his mom was a Tuttle Turtle for so long. Believe it or not, turtle was his first word!
I am a big sports fan. I am a die hard
DOLPHINS' fan through and through! YES...even when they have a season like they are having this year! When it comes to baseball, I live for Spring Training when I can go to Clearwater and watch my
PHILLIES...I know...there's always next year. Since the Phillies only make it here once in a blue moon to play the Tampa Bay Rays, I enjoy cheering for the Rays. In our house, we have a feud about hockey....I go for the
Lightning while Jason goes for the Flyers...poor Cody! When it comes to NASCAR, I always cheer for
Jr., while Jason goes for Jeff Gordon or Jimmy Johnson. The only sport I'm not really big on is basketball.
Below are some pictures of my family and me!
We met Elmo at MOSI! What fun! Are you ready for some football?
Cody and mommy ready for FSU vs. UF.
Cody and Daddy playing! PLEASE NO...not another one of
those season! GO PHINS!
COUSINS! Heidi, Olivia, Cody, me GO SAILORS...It's a family tradition!
and Great Granddad Spring 2006, in
New York!
Go Sailors...Cody and Mommy watch the Cody helps make English Muffin Pizza
Sailors beat the Rams! :-) for dinner! It's his favorite meal now!
Cody and Mommy at Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca, Kelly and Julie (Tuttle Buddy) at the
NY. Vacation July 2008 Chris Cagle concert- March 2008
St.Patrick's Day 2008 St. Patrick's Day 2008
Jason and Kelly posing with Cody's art Cody showing off his art work from
project from school. school! Cute little leprechaun!
Cody and Mommy at Busch Gardens 2008! Grammy and Cody- 4th of July 2008!
COUSINS! Cody and Olivia
4th of July 2008