About Me

2026-2027 will be my 11th year teaching at WJES!

Personal Background: I grew up in Conifer  and attended West Jeff Elementary, Elk Creek Elementary, West Jeff Junior High, Conifer High School. After ten years of living away, in California and New Zealand, we moved back to be near family and it feels so good to call the Rocky Mountains home. Together with my husband, Nick, and my three kids, we enjoy exploring the mountains, camping, hiking, canoeing, and especially being out in the community. You may also see me frequenting Peak Academy of Dance as I teach dance classes in my down time. I also teach DriveSafe periodically. I love Conifer!!

Professional Background: I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance (emphasis in Dance) from Chapman University in 2004. During my time there, I studied a year in New Zealand (where I met my husband). We lived there after I graduated where I worked in the arts sector as a director of a small non-profit dance company, taught dance in schools, and choreographed many performances. In 2008 I attended Teacher's College through the University of Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand (equivalent to a BA in Elementary Education). I taught for a year in a New Zealand intermediate school before we moved back to the USA. Since then, I have taught infants to school-age at Creative Minds / Mon Petit, taught a variety of ages and stages at Peak Academy of Dance, worked as a para at WJES, and taught 4th/5th grade before taking a maternity leave and returning in a 1st grade role in 2019. I then taught 5th grade for 2 years, 4th and 5th for 1 year, 4th grade for 1 year, and am excited to work with some familiar faces in 5th grade this year!

Teaching is not just what I do, it is who I am.