1. What made you decide to be a teacher/work in education?

I always knew I wanted to work with children in some capacity. I enjoy them so much and wanted to have an impact on their lives. I avoided going into education at first because it seemed too predictable (my Dad was an elementary school principal and my mom was a teacher). I guess it was just my destiny to end up in the educational system and I'm glad.

2. Where did you graduate from/what has brought you to this point?

I got my BS degree at Ohio University in Therapeutic Recreation with an emphasis in music. I was a Recreation Therapist at Laconia State School in Laconia, New Hampshire for five years. My desire for adventure lead me on a camping trip across Canada and up to Alaska. After four months on the road I stopped in Colorado and began teaching skiing in Beaver Creek and working as a preschool teacher at ABC School in Vail (now Children's Garden). While I was teaching, I continued my education in early Childhood, got my Colorado Director Qualification, and then attended the University of Colorado at Denver and received my MA in Counseling.

3. How many years have you been teaching/working in education?

I taught preschool for five years, 3rd grade at Vail Mountain School for one year, and taught preschool in my home for eight years while my three babies were little. I went back to ABC School as the director, for another five years and finally came to GES as the Counselor. I have been here for the past five years.

4. What do you like most about teaching/working in education?

I love counseling in the schools. I enjoy the balance of teaching character education, counseling small groups of students, helping individuals in crisis and working with parents. I feel like I can make more of an impact on children being in the school setting because I know them so well and can see them function in their daily environment. I can advocate for them and be available to them everyday. I also enjoy being around educators. They are great people! Working in schools has also given me the opportunity to spend quality time with my family, which is very important to me.

5. Anything else you would like the GES school community to know about you.

I love to hike, ski, play my violin and guitar, sing, go to movies and attend high school (as well as professional)sporting events, dance recitals, musicals, and concerts.