Although I lived in Calgary until I was eight, my family moved to a farm 25 miles NE of Edmonton, where I went to grades 3-9 in Gibbons, and 10-12 at Sturgeon Composite High School in Namao. Upon high school graduation in 1982, I went to the University of Alberta for one year in the Engineering program, and then most of two years at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Eventually I went back to school (in 2001), and graduated in 2003 with a B.Ed from the University of Saskatchewan. (see My Resume)
Between 1985 and 2001, I worked. For two years I was the Front-End Manager at Champion Feeds in Westlock, AB., responsible for the buying and selling of everything that was not feed related. In 1987, I became a partner in Westralia Farms. We milked 60 cows three times per day, ran a 200 head cow/calf operation, and farmed approximately 4500 acres of predominately feed grains and oilseeds. During this time I sat on many community boards, as well as volunteered in a variety of community clubs (see Me as a Leader)
Farming has given me a wide-range of experiences that I have been able to incorporate into my teaching. I have built my own house, and many out buildings. I have built and/or modified equipment that was used in our business. It was necessary to become competent in accounting practices, as well as soil science/management and much more in order to be successful in the farming business.
I left farming in 2001 to return to school. I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2003, which was the year many teachers in Alberta were laid off. Thus, the only employment I could obtain was in Beechy, SK., where I worked for two years. After subsequently teaching for one year at Ashmont Secondary in Ashmont AB., I moved to Calgary with my two children, where I was the Chair of Mathematics and Science at Calgary Christian School. In December, 2013, I received my Masters in Education degree from the University of Calgary.
In the fall of 2015, I decided to take on a new challenge, and moved to Chilliwack, BC, to teach at Unity Christian School, where I was employed teaching Grades 9-12 Math, Science, Chemistry, and Physics. However, after only one year is was clear to me that I had moved too far from my family so I returned to Alberta in 2016. I taught part-time for a couple of months in an Elementary grade five class before obtaining a full time position at the Morinville Learning Centre where I was employed as the Math and Science Teacher as well as the Technology Specialist. During my time there, I created modules for use in Math 30-1, Math 30-2, Physics 20, and Physics 30
In 2019, I accepted a position as Math, Science, and Shop teacher at the Thorhild Central School.
As well as teaching Math and Science Courses to Grades 9-12, I also taught Health 8 and Shop. Senior High Shop consists of individual CTS credits in Construction, Fabrication, and Mechanics. I have developed a series of courses that include both a theory and practical/project component.
Junior High Shop students learned about Shop safety and then made a variety of projects. As well, Grade 9 incorporated Shop into Science, by modelling the town of Thorhild, then using the knowledge of electricity from Science 9, lit up the town with lights.
In 2021, I began teaching at E.W.Pratt in High Prairie, teaching Math and Science as well as coaching boys volleyball, and I started a math tutoring program.