I went to college at Millikin University where I studied musical theatre.  Although teaching is my second career, I joke that I began studying to become a Montessori teacher when I was just three years old at which time my mother began Montessori teacher training and I had my first day as a student in a Children’s House classroom.  I earned my early childhood credential from the American Montessori Society in 1998.  After years of teaching Children’s House, I attended graduate school at St. Catherine’s University where I earned both my lower and upper elementary credentials through the American Montessori Society.  I have been teaching in a Montessori classroom for over 20 years. 

In 2016, I joined SPPS at Cherokee Heights Elementary during the transition to a Montessori program.  I was very excited to join Crossroads in the fall of 2021 as the WINN (What I Need Now) Reading Teacher for the Montessori program.  This is my dream job!  I get to teach reading all day long in a Montessori program.  By partnering with classroom teachers in Children’s House and E1, I work with kindergarten through third grade students to support reading and literacy development.

I love reading, Starbucks, biking, gardening, sewing and I am learning to play the ukulele.  My husband, our two kids and I spend lots of time with our dogs.  I especially enjoy watching our children’s sports and theatrical adventures.  Brandon is in high school.  He has played hockey since first grade when we lived in Fairbanks, Alaska.  Robin, my adult child, lives in Winona.  Robin loves Shakespeare, costume design and working with the Great River Shakespeare Festival.