I was born in Norfolk, Nebraska. My parents owned a Pepsi Cola Bottlers franchise. When I was about 5 years old, we moved to a very little town named Humboldt, Nebraska. I lived there until I was 16, we then moved to Nixa, Missouri where I finished my last two years of high school, so yes, I am a Nixa Eagle graduate. After graduating high school, I returned to the Northwest part of Missouri (closer to “home”) to attend Northwest Missouri State University and earn my Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary / Early Childhood Education.
After graduating in December of 1991, I returned to Nixa to work with my parents until June of 1992, I then moved to Las Vegas Nevada where I taught 2nd grade for a year. Things didn’t work out and I resigned and began working in the Flamingo Hilton counting and sorting coins. This was very physically demanding work, and I eventually moved back to Nixa in December of 1994. I again worked with my parents in their business then returned to what was then Southwest Missouri State University to begin my Master’s in Education Degree in Special Education – Cross Categorical Disabilities. During this time, I stopped working for my parents and began working with the Burrell Behavioral Center at a residential home in Nixa for children ages 5 – 15. I did the for about 2 1/2 years, then began teaching High School Behavior Disorder students at Reeds Spring, MO.
I have two wonderful and beautiful children. My daughter Brianna is 8 and my son Daniel is 5. They truly are the light of my world.
I interviewed with Willard and was offered (and accepted) the position I currently hold. This will be my 5th year teaching Science / Social Studies at Willard, and I can’t imagine wanting to teach anyplace else. I love it here!!
