About me:

I am in year 18 of teaching/working in the Shawnee District. I have worn many hats while working in the district. The past 4 years I was the 5th-8th grades ELA teacher and the 5th grade Science teacher. This is I am the 5th grade teacher and have moved classrooms back into the elementary wing. 

 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 in Elementary Education, from Western Kentucky University in 2002.  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 7 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 4th 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 were the SIJHSAA Class S Regional Tournament Champions for 2024. The Lady Braves also had a 4th place finish in the Class S State tournament in 2024 for the first time in over 10 years! I will be starting my second year of being the Jr. High girls basketball head coach this season.

Summer before last, my daughter played travel softball with SEMO Intensity 14U and got to go to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for the USSSA National Softball Tournament. In the summer of 2025, she played travel softball with Team Impact Shepard playing in high school open tournaments at the 18U level. 

In the spring of 2025, I started helping coach the Lady Reds high school softball team as a volunteer coach. 

      My family is my pride and joy.  I have two children, Lillie, 10th grade, and Spencer, 9th grade.  We have four dogs in our family, Peanut and Phoebe, both are Mini Australian Shepherds, Ivy, a German Shepard, and Red, a Pit Bull.