I grew up in Stephens City but began my career in Okayama, Japan as an English teacher.  Upon returning to the states, I first taught 8th grade language arts in Strasburg and then spent several years in Philadelphia teaching college prep English to international students.  After five years as the director of an Intensive English Program in Philadelphia, I returned home in 2016 and began teaching English as a Second Language at John Kerr Elementary School.  I was honored to be named John Kerr's "Teacher of the Year" in 2017. 

This year I am excited to "graduate" to Daniel Morgan Intermediate and explore the language of upper elementary.  My professional interest lies in vocabulary development, but I am passionate about many other things as well, including raising my two young sons and dumping chocolate chips into peanutbutter so I can eat them out with a spoon.  I have stood on my head while dressed as Yoda before and am not afraid to do it again if it helps students learn.