*Where did you grow up and attend school?
I am originally from North Carolina and attended school in several different towns there. I moved to Maine in 2009.
*Where did you attend college?
I received my BA in English and my MPH in Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
*Why did you want to become a teacher?
I did not actually begin teaching, although I have been an educator throughout my career. When I had my kids I realized what an impact can be made on them, even when very young, that can last for a lifetime. I decided to shift my work from adults to children in hopes of being a positive influence on their growth and development.
*Was there a particular person in your life that impacted your career choice or was your role model?
My mother was an amazing role model for me in many ways. She was a teacher in Special Education and always spoke very positively about her work. She was also a very loving mother and balanced her work and home life so well.
*Why do you like teaching or working with kids?
I particularly enjoy working with the Middle School age, because their minds have begun transforming with more knowledge about the world around them, bigger issues, and a deeper level of understanding of life. It is wonderful to have conversations with them and see what their views are and what they are learning on their different paths. Therefore, I am also hopeful that I may make a positive influence on them along the way. I wholeheartedly believe this is the generation that can and will make a difference in this unsettled world.
*What ARE some things you enjoy when not in school?
I enjoy spending time with my family. We are blessed to have many of our extended family nearby as well. I also love to go to the beach when I can, in any season. The ocean is my happy place!
*What are other hobbies or interests?
I love to read, watch movies, and listen to my favorite music. I also enjoy gardening and am slowly expanding my vegetable garden each year.
*Family life: Kids, significant other, kids, pets?
I have been married to my husband (who is from Eliot) for 15 years, and have a 14-year-old daughter, a 13-year-old son, and a 7-year-old daughter. We have two cats, 2 birds, 2 fish, 15 chickens, and would like to get a dog someday….and maybe some cows!
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