About Me

I grew up in a tiny town in northwestern North Dakota called Wildrose.  Wildrose is surrounded by beautiful rolling prairie, and of course, wild roses dot the landscape.  My parents worked at the school and my Dad farmed.  I loved growing up with animals, and having nature to creatively play in.

I headed off to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and English.  I performed in numerous plays and a professional Shakespeare tour.  The year of my college graduation, I married my high school sweetheart and moved to Minneapolis.

I decided that I wanted to become a teacher, and went back to night school at Augsburg College and picked up my teaching license.  I began my teaching career and have since taught for nine years in traditional and alternative schools in the Minneapolis area.  In addition to teaching at multiple middle and high school levels, I served as a Literacy Coach and a Teaching and Learning Specialist for Diversity and Educational Equity.  I completed my Master's of Education through Hamline University.  My areas of research and interest include literacy, human rights, at-risk education, service-learning, environmental education, and educational equity.

We moved to Stoughton a year ago and welcomed our first child, a daughter named Dakota Dawn.  I taught at Operation Fresh Start in Madison, and then made a move to Oregon Middle School this year.  I am very happy to be here!