I am a strong believer in life-long learning, there is always something new to learn! I grew up in a Navy family where we moved every 4-6 years so learning how to adapt, how to make new friends and learn how each new city was full of learning opportunities. When I started my educational journey I wanted to be an interior designer, but after I had my first art history class I was hooked! I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Studio Art and minors in history and Women’s studies (see, I like learning) at Oklahoma State University 1995.
After a few years of working in retail and volunteering at museums, I decided to go back to school to get my Master’s degree. After working full time and going to school at night, I got my Master’s degree in Elementary Education at DePaul University in 2005 and I was ready to be a 3rd-5th grade teacher. Little did I know, my first teaching interview for a 5th grade position turned into a spur of the moment “how would you like to teach art” interview.
In the fall of 2005 I started teaching art on a cart to 1st-5th graders in the Oswego Public school district (north of Chicago) and I fell in love with teaching art (just not with the cart). After my second child was born, my family and I moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan and my teaching career was put on hold to stay at home to raise my two daughters, Madison and Gaby. While I was home for those 8 years with my kids, I stayed active in PTO, owned my own businesses but never found anything I loved as much as watching kids take pride in something they made. My family moved back to Louisville in December of 2017 after being away for almost 2 years, I knew it was time for me to get back into the classroom and make art with kids!
This is my first year at St. Aloysisus and I am so happy to be a part of this community. I have loved how welcoming the students, faculty and parents have been and I look forward to what the future brings!