I am originally from San Jose, California, and attended Los Gatos High School, West Valley College (AA-liberal arts), San Jose State University (BA-history; single-subject teaching credential-history), and Colorado State University (MA-English). Between my bachelor's and master's degrees, I was a substitute teacher in Silicon Valley and then a Peace Corps volunteer in Chad, Africa, where I met my husband. I earned a full-ride scholarship to attend Colorado State University and came to Fort Collins to earn my graduate degree, never having the intention of remaining here after graduation. Three decades later, we are still here and have appreciated the opportunity to raise our children in this wonderful city.
The 2024-2025 school year will be my fifth year working at PGA. I first worked at PGA during the 2016-2017 school year and have also worked in positions at Opportunities Unlimited at Poudre High School (2018-2019) and at PSD-Virtual (2020-2021). Previous to that, I spent more than two decades switching off between working as an adjunct professor in the Intensive English Program/INTO at Colorado State University and being a stay-at-home parent to my two children (2018 & 2019 FCHS graduates, 2023 grads from Colorado College and Colorado State University).
I love to work with students who are struggling but who keep on striving. I do my very best to figure out what works for them. Working through the puzzle of what will help each student to achieve success is so rewarding! I love learning along with them.