I started my teaching career a few months after Bush opened in 1998. I have always had a love for reading and the English language. I enjoy writing both on a creative and a technical level. I treasured English class in school, and my sophomore English teacher at Lakeview Centennial High School, Sheila Greebon, inspired me to teach. I hoped to inspire my students -not necessarily to teach, the salary is NOT inspiring enough- but, to find a respect, and, hopefully, a love for writing, reading, and learning. In Stephen King's book, On Writing, he says that to be a good writer you have to read and write often. I agree. Through bits of many literary works, we learned about many writing strategies and techniques. Through abundant writing, we  practiced those techniques as we worked to find our own voices and styles.

Each year, I attempt to improve upon my successes and wrong turns in the previous year's instructional practices. Since joining Bush M.S., I was honored with the Superintendent’s Award in 2000, the Bush Trinity Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2004, the PTA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010, and the campus Teacher of the Year Award for 2016-17. I served as the English Department Chair from 2008 to 2018. I try to incorporate these successes and endeavors into my initiatives and plans each day, always striving to learn and grow from my students and teachers.  I encourage students to actively participate in their learning by being in all classes each day, participating in the lessons, asking clarifying questions, and attending tutoring and review sessions. However, I also encourage students to connect with the Bush family and proactively experience ALL that our middle school has to offer by joining clubs, attending campus games, performances and events, and contributing to philanthropic projects.

During the 2018-19 school year, I moved from the classroom to become one of our Assistant Principals. Although I loved this new leadership role, when our Academic Dean retired at the end of that school year, I swiftly applied and moved to what always brings me joy: working with both teachers and students in instruction. I've been proudly serving as the Bush Academic Dean of Instruction since the 2019-2020 school year.

When I'm not working, I enjoy reading, gardening, and spending time with my family. You may have seen me around CBC as I've volunteered at VBS and Wednesday nights youth group: Impact.

I hope the students enjoy the journey we will take this year. It will be what we make of it. I truly look forward to each day of the trip!

PSA to Parents:

Parents, it is OKAY for you to show your face on campus! In fact, it can be "kinda cool." You may not realize how important your continued participation in PTA and volunteering on campus is at the middle school level.

We have so many volunteer positions to offer whether you like greeting people and answering the phones in the office, helping with attendance, organizing and helping in the library, designing and/or decorating bulletin boards, or relaxing to the hum of the copy machines as you complete teachers' copies. We've always had one of the strongest and highest service-hours-earning parent volunteer campuses. We'd like to earn that title once again now that health mandates allow for volunteers. It is your presence that contributes to our strong sense of community, always making Bush the warm, inviting place that it is. Grandparents and community members are also welcome to volunteer. To become a volunteer, visit our How to Become a Volunteer page and complete the Criminal History Record Check form.