I am an Idaho girl, born and raised on a farm in southern Idaho.  I attended elementary, junior high, and high school in a small, rural district outside of Twin Falls, Idaho.  I was very involved in sports, music, academics, and 4-H throughout my school years.  My family is very tight-knit, comprised of fantastic parents, grandparents, two brothers, multiple cousins, and numerous aunts and uncles.  In the past few years, I have also gained a beautiful niece and three nephews.

 

I attended Northwest Nazarene University (College) for four years and earned two degrees in English and English Education.  After completing my first teaching assignment in Gooding, Idaho, and moving to Twin Falls School District,  I began working on completing an endorsement in Social Sciences Education.  After teaching and coaching for three years in Twin Falls, Idaho, I moved to Kimberly, Idaho.  The Kimberly School District provided me with four years of great teaching and coaching along with a desire to see what other opportunities were available in the Treasure Valley.  

 

I moved to Nampa in the summer of 2006 to take a coaching and teaching job at Middleton High School.  This was a great advancement in my teaching and coaching career and has provided me with a variety of challenges to overcome.  Along with my current teaching assignment of U.S. History I and II, I have been appointed a variety of other positions:  MHS Advisory Coordinator, Social Studies Department Chair, MHS Student Council Advisor, MSD Technology Integration Advisory Team (TIAT), and Assistant Track/Field coach.  My plate is full, but I love the challenge and expectations associated within each of these roles.  I am currently in my second year in the Idaho Core Teaching program which has provided me with experience in implementing the Idaho Core Standards in my classroom, practice in developing and delivering professional development for my colleagues, and the opportunity to interact with educational masters throughout our state and nation.

 

I met my wonderful husband in the summer of 2010.  After three years together, we married in the summer of 2013.  Through him I gained four wonderful children to add to my family.  He will tell you that he gained a wife and two additional children in the form of my dogs, Bella and Pepper.  My cup runneth over in so many ways!

 

My goal as an educator is to prepare my students to be productive, creative, positive, and successful citizens who can function as both as a producer and consumer in our 21st century landscape.  This word cloud represents me as a teacher, student, mentor, advocate, collaborator, and participant in the education process of my students.  More than someone who directs, manipulates, contains, and limits, I strive to be a teacher who questions, guides, listens, and responds to the evolving and flexible needs present in my classroom.