The 2026-2027 school year marks my 27th year teaching in DVUSD. Having moved here from Michigan at the age of 3, I've been in this district almost my whole life. I started kindergarten at Mirage Elementary and graduated from Deer Valley High School in 1995. After graduation, I attended classes at Arizona State University in Tempe, and then transferred to ASU West to complete my teaching courses. While working toward my degree, I interned at Village Meadows Elementary and completed my student teaching at Park Meadows Elementary.
 
After obtaining my bachelor's degree and being hired to teach 6th grade at Copper Creek in 2000, I enrolled in the Northern Arizona University master's program that was offered through a NAU-DVUSD partnership. My first year teaching, I was a district finalist for the Deer Valley Rookie of the Year.  I transferred to Sierra Verde School for my 2nd year of teaching to join the excitement of opening a new school and continue teaching 6th grade. I completed my master's program at the end of my first year here at SVS in May of 2002, and I currently hold a master's degree in elementary education with a language arts emphasis.  
 
While at Sierra Verde, I taught 6th grade for four years, then moved to 3rd grade for three years, looped up to 4th grade with my 3rd graders and stayed for 6 years, and I am excited to continue teaching English English Language Arts in 5th grade! In April of 2006, I was selected as a Deer Valley Teacher of the Year. Becoming a Deer Valley Teacher of the Year had been a dream since student teaching, so I was overjoyed to be chosen.  That award lead to my nomination for the Arizona Teacher of the Year in 2007.  I was again nominated for the Arizona Teacher of the Year in 2011.  In 2016, along with my teammate Mrs. Copenhaver, I was honored to be given the Deer Valley Classroom of Excellence award!  In 2019, I was certified as both a Level 1 and Level 2 Google Educator.  I incorporate technology in meaningful ways into my classroom on a daily basis.  Students use technology as a tool to learn as well as to demonstrate their learning.  During the 2020 school closures, I was part of the district training team that helped teachers transition from in-person to online learning, and I enjoy supporting fellow teachers as we grow in our understanding of purposeful classroom/online technology integration together.  Throughout my years at Sierra Verde, I've held roles such as Spirit Line Coach, National Junior Honor Society Advisor, Summer School Director, New Vipers Mentor, and DVUSD Instructional Way Leader are just a few.  I love mentoring and coaching new teachers, and I enjoy hosting interns and student teachers who are entering the profession.
 
On a personal level, I have been married to my husband, Jason, since July of 2007.  I love to read, watch television shows and movies, shop, garden, and spend time with friends and family.  We have 2 boys who are both in high school at Mountain Ridge.  Sierra Verde is my home, and I love coming to school each day with my family!

A few things about me...

• My Birthday ~ September 20
• Favorite Colors ~ Teal & Purple
• Favorite Drinks ~ Iced Tea (plain, peach, or passion fruit flavors)
• Favorite Candy ~ Jujyfruit, Almond Joy, Payday
• Favorite Snacks ~ Popcorn (must be labeled gluten free)
• Favorite Places to Shop ~ Amazon, Marshalls, T.J. Maxx
• Favorite Places to Eat ~ Pei Wei, Chick Fil A, In N Out, Firehouse Subs, P.F. Chang's, Ajo Al's
• Favorite Hobbies & Things to Do ~ fruit/vegetable gardening, shopping, watching television & movies, going to the movies (prefer AMC)
• Favorite Vacations ~ Carlsbad/San Diego (the beach), Disneyland
• Not-So-Favorites ~ coffee/Starbucks (surprising for a teacher, I know... but I've just never been a fan of warm drinks); flowers, candles, perfumes, lotions, etc. (all smell really pretty... but oh how they mess with my allergies!); mushrooms (if there are mushrooms in it, I would rather go hungry!); tuna (ewwww!!!)
• Allergies & restrictions ~ blooming flowers, anything with gluten (I have Celiac Disease, so I cannot eat anything with even a trace of gluten; because of this, I am unable to accept homemade treats/foods due to the possiblity of cross-contact)
  • Due to my extreme allergies and sensitivities to smells, my classroom is a "scent-free zone".  For health reasons, I do not permit students to open or use sanitizers, lotions, or body sprays in my room, and I kindly request that students to not wear strong-scented perfumes, lotions, or other body products to class.  These types of smells can trigger serious allergic reactions for me and for students with similar allergies, sometimes resulting in a need for medical care.