Born and raised in Northeastern Wisconsin, I grew up with my Mom, Dad, and older brother. As a kid, I enjoyed riding my bike, snowmobiling, and glamping. In high school, I participated in all sorts of clubs and organizations (ski club, StuCo, symphonic band, art club, Honor Society, class officer, etc.), and played varsity softball and basketball. After high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Upon graduation, I moved to St. Louis (for what I thought was going to be a short time) to further my education. My husband Dennis and I have three beautiful children: two girls (Jordyn and Joslyn) and one boy (Tysen). When we're not teaching, Dennis coaches football and track, and we enjoy Grant's Farm, the Zoo, swimming, movies, and visiting family in Wisconsin. I also love to golf, create beautiful things, ​and travel. Like most people who grew up in Wisconsin, I'm an avid Packers and Badgers fan.  My undergraduate degree is in Journalism/Advertising from the University of Wisconsin at Madison (On Wisconsin!) I earned my teaching credentials from Washington University in St. Louis, and have Masters degrees in both Curriculum & Instruction (Lindenwood University) and in Educational Technology (Webster University.)  I have been in education for a total of 23 years: a teacher in the classroom for 13 and an Instructional Coach (teaching teachers) for 10. I started teaching at Hazelwood Central High School, then moved to Valley Park High School before becoming an Instructional Coach at Herculaneum High School, for the State of Missouri, and in the Affton School District. Currently, I teach both Sociology and U.S. History to 11th and 12th graders at Affton High School.