About Me

Introduction:

   I was born in Jacksonville, FL to two parents who served in the Navy, which is why I have such a deep admiration for the military and I am not ashamed to say I tear up watching the military homecoming videos.  I also have the honor of having two grandfathers who served during World War II and the Korean War, not to mention my father who served during Vietnam. My father and grandfather were the ones who instilled a love for history.  

    We moved to San Diego, CA when I was 4, and lived there for 14 years. I eventually moved here to TX to attend Southwest Texas State University (Texas State), and graduated with degrees in History and Broadcasting, with a certification in Education. I am now in my twenty-first year of teaching, and all of those years have been in U.S. History. I started my first 3 years of teaching in inner-city Houston and eventually came here to Canyon Vista Middle School in 2006. I also serve as one of the 8th- grade team leads on campus. When I am not in class,  I coach the CVMS Cross Country team in the fall and co-sponsor Student Council.

   I currently lead the 8th-grade U.S. History trip every other summer, which I have done since 2006. I have led trips to Washington D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City. I believe students learn and respect history more when they can go to those places we learn about in class. My dream job after I retire from teaching is to become a National Park Ranger at a historical site on the east coast or work for the National Park System doing educational outreach.

Favorite Things to Do:

  Hanging out with my family at events around Texas, shopping, playing sports, reading, running 5ks with my family, debating about news events, and making things from Pinterest (not successfully). I am part of the Leander Citizens Police Academy Program and CERT (Citizens Emergency Response Team), which gives me great experience working with law enforcement and emergency responders. Eventually, I would like to get certified to volunteer my time with Victim's Services for Leander PD through these programs. I also like to donate blood as a way to repay those who donated blood to save my grandfather when he was alive, and my dad when he needed transfusions a few years ago.

Favorite Books:

  The Help, Blood and Guts, Caste, On Hallowed Ground: History of Arlington National Cemetery,  I Bear Witness: Stories from the Holocaust, and other historical novels.

Favorite Movies:

  Anything Indiana Jones, Pixar movies, any Avengers movie, Up, Barbie, and so much more. Picking one favorite movie is like picking a favorite student, you just can't.

Favorite TV Shows:

  Loki, Game of Thrones, Cobra Kai, Stranger Things, American Horror Story series, The Mandalorian, and many others.

Favorite Vacations:

Going to Hawaii with my Ohana, going to any Disney Park, taking tours of historical locations, and going to my home state of California to visit my old stomping grounds. I enjoy visiting Arkansas. Arkansas is one of the most underrated states in the U.S. My goal is to visit every U.S. state with my son before he turns 18 (we are at 26 states so far). Road trips are great to see how beautiful this country really is. Last summer we did a road trip to Iowa for my son's Junior Olympic competitions and made time to visit Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. We fell in love with the city of Omaha and the soybean fields of Iowa.

Pet Peeves:

  Those who take things for granted, anyone who can't back up their arguments with actual sources, those who purposely try to be mean or rude to others, dishonest people, and cockroaches, most definitely cockroaches.