About me:

I am in year 17 of teaching/working in the Shawnee District. I am the 5th-8th grades ELA teacher and the 5th grade Science teacher. I received two Master's degrees from Southeast Missouri State University in 2014. I have a master's degree in Reading and in Exceptional Child Education with an emphasis in Autism. I received my Bachelor's degree from Western Kentucky University in 2002. My bachelor's degree is in Elementary Education. I was born and raised in Kentucky and moved to Illinois in 2006.

  I love animals, sports, shopping, the beach, reading, coaching sports, and napping when I can. I am a huge University of Kentucky fan. I am also a big Oklahoma Sooners Softball fan. 

I am the Jr. High girls softball Head Coach and have been for 6 years. The Lady Braves earned a 3rd place finish in the SIC tournament in 2022, a 2nd place finish in the Regional tournament in 2022, a 4th place finish in the SIC Conference tournament in 2023, and a 2nd place finish in the regional tournament in 2023.  Prior to being head coach, I was the assistant softball coach for 2 years.

 I have also coached the Elementary girls' basketball team for 7 years. I have helped coach a recreational softball team, the Lady Titans, in Grand Tower, in the summers, for 8 years.  

This season will be my 3rd year as the assistant Coach for the Jr. High girls' basketball team. The Jr. High girls' basketball team earned a 2nd place finish in the SIC Conference Tournament in 2022, a 2nd place finish in the Regional Tournament in 2022, a 2nd place finish in the SIC Conference Tournament in 2023 and are the SIJHSAA Class S Regional Tournament Champions for 2024. The Lady Braves also had a 4th place finish in the Class S State tournament this year for the first time in over 10 years! 

This past summer my daughter played travel softball with Team Impact and got to go to Panama City Beach, FL for the USFA Softball World Series. They got 10th place out of 28 teams! My son played baseball this summer and his team went undefeated all season and won 1st place in their tournament.

      My family is my pride and joy.  My husband, Todd, and I have two children, Lillie, 8th grade, and Spencer, 7th grade. They both play ball and we can usually be found at the ballpark either playing softball or baseball, or in a gym during basketball season. Both kids also participate in marching band at school. We have two dogs and one cat in our family.