I am originally from the wonderful state of Iowa, and I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with my degree in Teaching of Secondary English. I earned my master's degree in English Literature from Northeastern Illinois University, and my thesis analyzed female characters in Shakespeare's comedies. Shakespeare is a favorite of mine; that's why he is there to welcome you to our classroom. I became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2017.

My husband, son, and I spend a lot of time reading, traveling, playing and watching sports, listening to music, and working in our home and garden. We have a dog named Ferris who has dug up much of the garden.