-I was born and raised in a small rural community in Northern Ohio. I graduated from a small class of 65 students from Berlin Center Western Reserve where I participated in basketball, track, and National Honor Society. I attended college at Kent State University, Ashford University, and Black Hills State University where I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Science with a Minor in Education and went on to receive a Master's Degree in Special Education, Family and Community Studies, and Mathematics. I continued to receive certifications in Elementary Education age 3 to Grade 8 as well as Birth to Three Early Intervention. I also have taken graduate courses from the University of Sioux Falls and the University of South Dakota. I have been a substitute teacher, para-professional, summer camp counselor, High School Varsity and JV Girl's Assistant Basketball Coach, High School Volleyball Assistant Coach, and currently Edgemont's Junior High Basketball Coach.
I have been in the education field since 1994. I finally received my Bachelor's Degree in 2010 where I began to practice my education at Star Academy in Custer, SD as a special education and math teacher. In 2014, I was hired at Edgemont School District 23-1 as the Elementary Special Education Teacher. In 2016, as our school adopted the model for Mass Customized Learning; I was able to support all learners within the educational environment.
My passion for teaching began when I was a little girl. My past- times generally consisted of teaching lessons to my pretend students in a play house in our back yard. I also enjoyed the country life where I often caught frogs, made mud-pies, fished, explored the woods, gardened, rode my bike, and practiced a lot of imaginative play. At the early age of 3, life changed unexpectedly. My father experienced a brain aneurysm leaving him paralyzed on the right side of his body. Although his cognition and speech returned, his physical body needed acute care and therapy. As a result, the time I spent with him often included visits to rehabilitation programs at facilities such as The Society for the Blind, Easter Seals, and apartments for the disabled.
These experiences provided me with many tools in my tool box to support my passion for people with disabilities as well as the advocacy for the disabled. My father was part of many organizations to include his advocacy for the disabled within Ohio. My dad helped to facilitate legislation for disabled people to include handicapped parking spaces, handicapped public facilities, and additional public support for the handicapped. My dad was definitely a pioneer for many things to include parenting as an adult with a physical disability. Some of my fondest memories include handing out notices to people who parked in handicapped spaces, roller skating while pushing my dad, pretending his wheelchair wheels were steering wheels, swimming with him and others in therapy swimming pools, taking karate classes with the disabled, and being the envy of all my young friends because our kitchen was built to support someone sitting in a wheelchair comparable to a kitchen for a young child. Due to his speech impairment, I also learned his language and often had to vocalize to adults what my father was saying (I felt so important!).
Along the years, I experienced many situations that helped to build the foundation for my passion of helping children. I experienced many situations that have been part of my tool box to help others and develop strong advocacy within my occupational field and personal life.
Most importantly, the three best decisions I have had the blessing to experience have been the gift of my three children. Each have taught me so much about life and I cherish the gifts of love and joy that they bless me with each day. My husband and I share six adult children and five grandchildren. Although all but one live on the other side of the country, my heart as a mother and grandmother continues to grow to include the blessings of the children that are in my care during the school day. I am very thankful to the Edgemont Community and other families that I work for to share in their children's learning and growth.
Although we lost my dad to Cov he will forever remain, My Hero.