This is a picture of me working as a hiking guide in southwestern France. France is a special place to me. I worked at this particular job four different times, for periods ranging from three months to one year. I have also worked as a hiking guide in Montana and Maine, leading people from ages 8 to 80! In mountain climbing, hard work is rewarded with a sense of confidence and accomplishment, as well as the glory of a beautifully broad perspective. History class is no different!

This is my husband and I on our wedding day. We met in graduate school at the University of Montana. He is also an educator here at West. (He is an exceptionally gifted teacher. You can tell him I said so). His mother, father, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and their spouses are ALL superstar educators. My family is filled to the brim with teachers as well. You might say we were born to it. We eat, sleep, breathe, and bleed teaching, y'all. It's a family affair.

Sometimes learning requires that you really dive right in. Here's us learning about Lewis and Clark's Voyage of Discovery in Montana.

I LOVE learning, and particularly the study of history!

After I graduated high school, I pursued my higher education at the University of Montana in Missoula.

I graduated with honors in 2007, with a B.A. in World History.

Actually, I took the maximum number of credits that the university would allow in any one major, which quite nearly constituted two degrees. One might say I double majored in history and history.

I also did my postgraduate work in European history at the University of Montana. Classes that I taught there as a teacher's assistant were as important to me as my own work in graduate school. That reemphasized how important teaching was to me.

In the years since, I have mounted a constant effort to educate myself about the people of the world.

My most fervent hope is to be a lifelong student, and in turn, a lifelong teacher.

I am a certified teacher in the state of North Carolina.

I studied education at North Carolina State University.

I do everything in my power to help all of my students love learning as much as I do.

Old things tend to excite me a lot more than new things, and I am a big fan of vintage everything. This extends into my love of vintage clothing and hats.

I love costumes, stories, and everything that demands or encourages the use of our imaginations. I love to be silly outside of class. In class, I tend to be very serious, because I believe so deeply in the importance of studying history and the importance of a quality education. I know, in the core of my being, that knowledge is power. I hope to give my students as much access to that power as I possibly can.

I was born in the Netherlands. My parents are both Americans, but we were stationed in Europe when my father was in the military. Here's me in Holland enjoying its national flower, the tulip.

Lastly, I am always eager to hear more about YOU.

Students and their families are what makes my job rewarding.

For that matter, students and their families are what makes my job EXIST!

Let's work together to make this the best school year yet!