This is my 24th year in education. After this year I will have been with the Van Meter family for twenty-two years. I received my BA in Spanish Teaching 5-12 from the University of Northern Iowa, my K-6 elementary endorsement from Grandview University and am a graduate from Graceland University with a Masters in Education. I have had the opportunity to study abroad in Spain, living with a family and also backpack across the country visiting several awesome cities.  Because of my experiences, one of my passions is to allow students to experience the Spanish world in person. 

In 2010, I founded the Van Meter Spanish Travel Program and with this club, have headed trips to Spanish speaking countries. These are experiences of a lifetime!   Typically trips are offered every other year, but sometimes trips fill quickly and I reconsider and offer another trip in the following year!:)

2010 Spain

2013 Spain

2015 Peru

2016 Costa Rica

 2018 Spain

2022 Costa Rica-Panama 

2024 Italy Spain

2026 Peru** upcoming! 

My husband and I live in Waukee with our three Great Danes Gus, Cleo and Moose along with our three children.  We have a sophomore at the University of Northern Iowa studying science teaching with a Spanish minor, Kadence, our son, Kaegan is a senior, and our son Grayson is a freshman this year.  All are part of the Van Meter School District.

I was raised in Spirit Lake Iowa in the family business and have a lot of my parent’s values and work ethic that have been instilled in me since I was a small child. I carry the value that my students need to have good work ethic in the classroom so that they can be better prepared for life and the responsibilities life brings after High School; therefore I do have high expectations. I love teaching and I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in grade school. I had a very influential Spanish teacher when I was in High School that I can only hope to one-day create a shadow that would mirror his work. The Spanish language is my passion. My goal is to share some of that passion with students in hopes that the boundaries of their world expand to include places and customs that differ from their own while recognizing that as a people, we are very much alike. I also hope that the idea of learning a second language takes on more meaning than fulfilling the minimum requirements in order to get into a four-year college, but rather a necessity in today’s changing society and the job world.  We speak primarily Spanish in all levels of Spanish and it is amazing to see students growth within just weeks of learning.  It is because of those moments that I know I have found my passion.  I look forward to learning with your child this year and throughout the four years of High School Spanish.