As the Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Principal, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with highly-qualified, dedicated, caring staff who are passionate about kids and education. My 24+ years in the District include 11 years as a classroom teacher at many levels, time as a school-wide reading specialist and RTI Coordinator, and now, my position as principal. For reference, this year I discovered that two of my fourth-grade students are themselves now teachers in the District!

I began my career at Valley Park School in 1994. My interest in teaching different ages has taken me from a multi-age K-1-2, 1-2, 4th, 2nd, and 3rd grade teacher followed by three years as a building-wide reading specialist and intervention teacher. All of these experiences helped me learn valuable perspectives on child development, social-emotional supports and needs, as well as academic strategies at multiple levels.

Over the years, I have attained a Bachelor's Degree in teaching, a Master's Degree in Principal Leadership, and a Doctorate in K-12 School Leadership.

My experience in providing professional development goes back many years and includes securing, facilitating, and leading many academic, operational, and social-emotional professional development sessions as well as continuing education courses and Master's level coursework. Today, I continue to be engaged and excited about teaching and learning through my multi-faceted role as an educational coach, program coordinator, and support for staff and students.

Leading learning at Tongass School is especially rewarding. Working with committed families and educators provides many opportunities to foster school-family-community relationships and personal growth. I am honored and excited to be asked to continue the work of maintaining a positive school climate where students, staff, and families learn together.