About Me

Thank you for visiting this page to learn more about me!  I am an Social Studies educator at Riverdale High School, and I teach Economics and African American History.  I've been an educator since last century, and I've been at Riverdale since 2009. Throughout my years of teaching in TN, WI, and FL, I have often been an activity sponsor, particularly of student government, debate and forensics teams, drama, volunteer clubs, and comics club. I am currently the Warrior GSA sponsor for Riverdale. I have degrees in Education from both USF and MTSU.

Volunteerism is a particular passion of mine, as is service learning. When I am not teaching, I work with nonprofit organizations. In fact, when I moved to Tennessee, my first job was through AmeriCorps at Hands On Nashville. As their Youth Program Coordinator, I was able to create volunteer opportunities for hundreds of youth all over the Davidson County area and teach a group of teens leadership skills. I've also worked at Safe Haven Family Shelter, where I helped unhoused children find summer camps, opportunities, and childcare while their parents looked for/ went to work.  More recently, I served other educators in Rutherford County Schools by volunteering with Rutherford Education Association as an AR, Treasurer, and President. I also served for 6 years as a board member for Nashville in Harmony, first as the creator and Program Director of Major Minors, its youth chorus, and then as Board President.  As a singer with Nashville in Harmony, I had the pleasure of performing at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Bridgestone Arena, and the Ryman Auditorium with talented friends, Broadway singers, and music stars like Demi Lovato, Ben Folds, and Barry Manilow!

In 1995, I married my love, Garrett, and together we raised our two amazing children, Max and Bee, who also graduated from Riverdale. Garrett was a beloved librarian at Linebaugh Public Library until he passed away in 2023.  I also have an older dog, adopted from the Mars Innovation Center, named Merida.  I love to read, make art, listen to stand-up comedy, and travel.  My most recent trips have been to Washington, D.C., NYC, New Haven, Seattle, Minneapolis, LA, and Boston.