Designated by Onondaga County Democratic Committee & Endorsed by Working Families Party & Eleanor's Legacy 

Personal & Professional Profile

Growing up in a household where both parents worked hard in blue-collar jobs to make ends meet had its challenges. Neither was a college graduate and when one parent was at work, the other parent was home, limiting true "family" time. Groceries had to be shopped for, dinner had to be prepared daily for five, and there was always laundry to get done. "Quality" family-time rarely ever occurred on planned vacations or fun family trips, but on Friday paydays when Dad came home with a couple of boxes of pizza or a big bucket of fried chicken. As soon as working papers were in-hand, a part-time job was to be had. After high school, came juggling community college classes and multiple part-time jobs. Struggle seemed constant and expected. Figuring out ways to move forward was difficult and often seemed impossible. I've spent summers working on a farm and in a factory. Later on becoming an expert at juggling full-time graduate school with a full-time job and raising a baby. Earned an Associate of Science degree from Herkimer County Community College and an SU Bachelor of Arts degree  (cum laude) in History & Master of Science degree in Adolescent Education (magna cum laude) from Utica University.  Thankfully, these challenges and struggles that yielded positives changes and results. I learned how the real world works...what we actually need and how to persevere. 

Fast-forward to today: work-life balance matters most. Public school teacher by day, parent by night. And sometimes a wedding officiant on the weekend. A proud military spouse serving family, high school students, and couples, all with dedication and enthusiasm. And serving fellow residents of District 14 as an elected representative—shaping policies that matter to working families and the next generation, as well as advocating for those in-need and making a difference—is just on the horizon. Decisions made too hastily don't benefit anyone as far as community goes; research and data-based decision-making are key steps that must be taken when evaluating situations and developing solutions. Cultivating community is so crucial, as too many have witnessed and experienced divide. Recognizing shared values and uniting on common ground is imperative to building up communities and addressing issues that impact everyone. And there is nothing like seeing issues resolved and watching desired changes actually happen.