I am a product of the Midwest. I was raised in the suburbs of Chicago and have many family members that are still farming in western Illinois. Growing up, I realized that the suburbs were not for me. I found the only college in Illinois that had a National Forest nearby and decided that Forestry would be the Bachelor’s degree for me. I used my degree as a stepping stone towards environmental education. During this time I taught at Denver Botanic Gardens (Chatfield Nature Preserve), Colorado State Parks, The Plains Conservation Center (Aurora), and Upham Woods Environmental Education Center (the Pingree Park of Wisconsin). After working at all these places it made me realize that I wanted to have a deeper connection with the students that I was teaching for such a short period of time. In Wisconsin (the other place I call home) I got a job working with K-2 students in a computer lab, and the rest is history! We moved back to Colorado so that I could get my master’s in Elementary Education at UNC. This is when I got hired as the computer lab teacher at Kruse in 2006. My mom always said I should’ve gone into teaching, I should have listened!
My husband, Chris, and I like to keep busy. When he isn’t building timberframe homes, we use his carpentry skills to work on our house and yard. We also love to hit the trails with our dogs. Depending on the season, you might find us dirt biking, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, or canoeing together. The outdoors keeps us balanced and as a happy couple.
When not on the trail with Chris, you might find me in my garden, chicken coop, or the kitchen. My family roots have instilled a Betty Homemaker in me. I get so much satisfaction in collecting my eggs, baking cookies, picking vegetables or digging in the dirt. It’s the simple things that make me so happy. I guess that’s why I teach at an elementary school.