Hello and welcome to my MMS page!

Let me start by telling you a little about myself: I teach 8th grade ELA. I graduated from Boise State University (Go Broncos!) with a Communication and English degree in 1999.  A couple of years later, I returned to BSU for my teaching certificate.  

Although I received my education in my early twenties, teaching is actually a second career for me.  After completing my education, I began writing professionally, first as a technical writer and finally as a ghost writer.  I have written countless articles and ghost-authored 13 books.  While I can honestly say writing professionally was an amazing adventure, the hallowed grounds of education continued to call to me, so I set my pen aside in hopes of teaching a new generation of writers. (I think it's fair to say that I am a word-fanatic—just ask any one of my 150 plus students!)

When I am not spouting the importance of complete sentences, I like to spend time with my two kids, my husband, and our dog, Hobbes.  I love to camp, hike, exercise, cook…and of course, READ!

I could easily argue that learning to effectively communicate is one of the most valuable life skills one can acquire, and I take teaching my students that skill to heart.   While my 8th grade ELA class is rigorous, I try to sprinkle in a daily dose of humor, wit, and/or fun…and lucky for me, when I am running short on any of the aforementioned, my students are capable and happy to supply them!

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” ~Abraham Lincoln

GO VIKES!!