13 total years teaching experience -2 years in Ohio -3 years in Kentucky -2 years in Louisiana -6 years in North Carolina *Moved due to former spouse being military.

I am firm but fun. I teach my students to think for themselves and not have someone else make all their choices for them. I have had students come back and thank me for being the hard teacher I was because it prepared them for middle and high school.

Teacher of the Year 2011-2012- Pate Gardner Elementary

BA- Walsh University, North Canton, OH 1995 Masters of Education in Technology Summa Cum Laude Lesley University, Cambridge, MA 2010

I am a mom and wife first, then a teacher. I love all my children no matter what. I protect those who need protecting even if they don't think they need it. I live in one of the poorest counties in NC, 6th poorest in the nation. My county leads NC in unemployment. To say that my students would come to school without a problem is wasted breath. My students have multitudes of family and financial issues it's mind blowing. I just recently married for the second time and he is the prince I have been looking for all this time. He's very supportive and active with my son. Originally from Ohio, I miss my family, but my family needs me to work, so therefore moving back to Ohio wouldn't be in our plans in the near future.