
Howdy! So, you’re wondering about me? Well, here’s a small glimpse into my life.
I’ll start with my amazing family. I have parents who have been married for half a century. Wow! That’s hard to fathom. I also have a twin brother who is also an educator and has a Master’s of Education in Administration. He’s a great guy and passionate for teaching children!

Along with coming from an amazing family, God has allowed me the opportunity to create my own amazing family. My husband, Greg, and I have been married for almost 20 years. Marriage is not easy, but God has walked with us the entire way and showed us how to work through our rainy days to find those beautiful rainbows.
Also, God granted us the opportunity to teach Financial Peace University which we did for 10 years which enabled us to meet so many great people in our community. Becoming debt-free ourselves has enabled us to take the financial stress out of our marriage and grow our relationship at a deeper level. I am learning to love this guy more and more every year!

In 2006, I found out that I was going to have a sweet baby boy. I am not going to say that I was the best mother by any means, especially considering the fact that I went back to work when Eli was only 4 weeks old, but we all survived.
In 2008, I found out that I was pregnant with my second baby boy. I always tell Drew that I just knew our family was complete as soon as I saw his face in the hospital. Eli and Drew are pretty inseparable and watching them grow up together makes my heart so happy. I hope they stay close their entire life.

Maybe you can relate to this next comment, but I always swore I would never be a teacher. I remember being in college when I said this, and then God gave me the opportunity to play the piano for a middle school and high school choir. Naturally, I fell in love with the kids and realized that I just had to a teacher. I couldn’t get enough of it.

So, I decided to major in Education with a specialization in Math. I also earned an Associates Degree in Music which proved helpful because when we moved to College Station the only job available was a music position (K-5). I didn’t realize this then but now I see how being a music teacher has helped me in the regular education classroom in so many ways. The most important skills I learned in music were how to be highly organized and run a tight ship when it came to classroom management because the kids were with me for such a short amount of time.

I went on to teach 4th grade self-contained and departmentalized. I took off a couple of years to stay home with Drew which allowed me the opportunity to work part-time at a Boys Ranch in our town. This was a nice break and helped me to grow spiritually and see God working in so many ways.
I went back to teaching K-5 music at another elementary campus and then taught 3rd grade at this same campus. This is by far one of my favorite grade levels because of 3rd grade reading. It feels amazing when you know you are helping to close the gaps in reading and helping students to not just become another statistic.

I did move to another district but am still teaching 3rd grade. God will not leave me here. I know that He is preparing something else for me. The last statement I remember saying is “I would never become an administrator in a school” and now I am working towards this goal.

One thing I have learned in life is that our way is not usually His way. This is just the beginning of my story. I have been in education for a little more than decade but know that my career is just starting. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter will behold.