I've been working with children since the late 1990s, starting with babysitting my nieces and nephews, volunteering as a preschool Sunday School teacher and President of the children's organization at church, and teaching swimming lessons in college.

I moved to the Lynchburg, VA area from Phoenix, AZ in 2004 to get a Biology degree from Randolph College. My marriage has kept me in the area, and I have since completed two M.Eds. from the University of Lynchburg in Science Education and Early Childhood Special Education. I also completed a Child Development Associate program.

Professionally, I taught preschool at Randolph College Nursery School and Elizabeth's Early Learning Center. I gained experience in teaching with both HighScope and Creative Curriculum. Working in these settings also allowed me to become familiar with Virginia State Licensing Standards, Virginia State Quality Initiative (VSQI), Early Childhood Classroom Rating Scale (ECCERS), and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards.

I took 4 years off in the middle of my second Masters program to have two beautiful daughters in 2017 and 2018, but was able to finish the degree in 2021! My children join me as I teach other preschoolers from the local area.