I started my professional life with a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno.  After several years spent in the business world, I discovered my true passion and mission in life was to be the teacher I wanted my children to have, and earned my teaching credentials through the Sierra Nevada College Teacher Certification program in 2001.  I earned my GT endorsement in 2009 and joined the Magnet program during its inaugural year (2011) after having taught English at Vaughn MS for ten years.  As a third-generation educator, I’m continually working toward my goal of being ‘the toughest middle school teacher ever’ by joining the Northern Nevada Writing Project, winning a few teaching awards, serving on various educational advisory councils, and running a marathon all in the spirit of engaging students in the joys of the written and spoken word.  In 2022, I earned my National Board Certification in the teaching of Gifted Students. In my free time, I enjoy talking about my adorable granddaughter, reading, writing, taking photos of my animals, traveling to exotic places, playing golf, and working out.  My Gateway Book is To Kill a Mockingbird, but I am always reading new books, and my current favorite books include Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, James, The River is Waiting, and almost anything by Jodi Picoult.  

I have two daughters (both proud graduates of Swope MS!) who have gone on to great colleges and are now successfully navigating their post-grad school adventures in Reno and Seattle.  Closer to the home front, my husband and I root for the Nevada Wolf Pack while sharing our home with our delightful and lovable Paw Patrol--Kennedy, a Golden Retriever, and Scout and Finch, our resident Burmese cats.