Family, Friends, Football, Fitness, Teaching and Technology
Family
Family is one of the most important things in my life. My parents are Terry and Jane and I have two younger sisters, Noel and Caitlin. Even though we are all busy we make the time to spend time together. In the summer we head to our lake house in Clarion, Iowa for some fun in the sun. We like to float, boat and soak up the sun. In the fall and winter we are a big football family. And the times in between we get together to celebrate the holidays with our extended family.
Friends
Softball, swimming and volunteering are some of the ways that I enjoy spending time. For the past several summers my friends and I have played co-ed softball in the Floyd summer softball league. I have enjoyed watching our team get a little bigger each year as my friends add to their growing families.
I have also made a lot of friends through volunteering. I have been volunteer for many years for a lot of different things. This summer I had the chance to volunteer for the Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha. It was amazing to be so close to some of the world's greatest swimmers. I like to participate in 5K runs/walks to help raise awareness. This summer I ran my 3rd 5K in the Siouxland Race for the Cure. In the past I have been a volunteer tutor at GiGi's Playhouse which is a down syndrome achievement center. I started volunteering at GiGi's because I have a very good friend that has downs syndrome, her name is Danica. You can frequently find me and my sassy friend splashing around at the Kingsley pool or supporting our Panther athletes at sporting events.
Football
I am a big college football fan. From Labor day weekend to the beginning of January all of my Saturdays are busy, watching college football. I have to start my mornings watching Kirk Herbstreit on College Game Day and then my Saturday begins. It doesn't really matter who is playing unless it is Notre Dame. I am a CRAZY Notre Dame fan. I guess I have been a fan since I was about four years old and my grandparents bought me a Notre Dame cheerleading outfit while visiting my Aunt Sherri, at Notre Dame, while she was a grad school. I love going to games with my family. My Papa got me hooked when he took me to my very first ND game in 2008. Last year I got to go to my first college football bowl game as I drove to Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl with my Aunt Sherri. I have also been to Notre Dame's Football 101 Camp (breast cancer awareness fundraiser) several times. Go IRISH!
Fitness
Fitness has recently become a huge part of my life. After struggling with my weight for most of my life I made a commitment to myself to live a healthier life. Eating right and exercising helped me to lose over 100 lbs and started my path to a happier, healthier me. I continue to workout and coach at Top-Tier-Fit, a group fitness gym, in Sioux City. Yoga is another practice I have picked up along the way which helps strengthen me, mind, body and soul. During my journey I have made goal setting a priority in my life. Running a 5k and participating in a triathlon have been goals that I have accomplished along the way. Running a half marathon and becoming a certified yoga instructor are goals that are still on my list. Setting goals is an extremely important aspect of becoming a successful person. I encourage my students to set goals and put them in our goal jar in my classroom.
Teaching
Once a Panther, always a Panther. I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2007 with a business teaching and special education degree. I have been teaching at Kingsley-Pierson since February 2011. I started at K-P at the Middle School teaching special education and I also taught computer literacy. I started as the high school business teacher during the 2014-2015 school year. I love teaching at the high school and preparing our young adults for the "real world". Continuing to learn as a teacher is extremely important to me. I am always striving to be the best teacher I can be. I do this by participating in conferences and attending and facilitating training. During the summer of 2016 I was able to complete and attain my Google Certified Educator Level 2 certificate.
Starting in August 2017 I will start pursuing my masters degree at the University of Northern Iowa. I will be working towards a degree in Instructional Technology.
I have added to my extra-curricular activities, I am the High School Speech coach and a Track Wrestling statistician. I have been a MS Track and Girls Basketball coach. I also enjoy helping out with cheerleading every now and then. Supporting our students in all of their activities is extremely important to me.
"I call my students "my kids" because in our year together they aren´t just kids on my class list, they become a part of my heart"
Technology
Technology has always been a passion of mine. I love to "geek out" on the new technology that is out there! My job allows me to share this passion with my students and now it will allow me to share it with my fellow teachers. I will begin a new teaching/coaching adventure during the 2016-2017 school year as I will be a Digital Literacy Coach for grades 7-12 at KP. In this new position I will be helping my peers integrate technology into their classrooms. I am excited that I get to stay in my classroom with my students and add this new facet to my career.
Family is one of the most important things in my life. My parents are Terry and Jane and I have two younger sisters, Noel and Caitlin. Even though we are all busy we make the time to spend time together. In the summer we head to our lake house in Clarion, Iowa for some fun in the sun. We like to float, boat and soak up the sun. In the fall and winter we are a big football family. And the times in between we get together to celebrate the holidays with our extended family.
Friends
Softball, swimming and volunteering are some of the ways that I enjoy spending time. For the past several summers my friends and I have played co-ed softball in the Floyd summer softball league. I have enjoyed watching our team get a little bigger each year as my friends add to their growing families.
I have also made a lot of friends through volunteering. I have been volunteer for many years for a lot of different things. This summer I had the chance to volunteer for the Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha. It was amazing to be so close to some of the world's greatest swimmers. I like to participate in 5K runs/walks to help raise awareness. This summer I ran my 3rd 5K in the Siouxland Race for the Cure. In the past I have been a volunteer tutor at GiGi's Playhouse which is a down syndrome achievement center. I started volunteering at GiGi's because I have a very good friend that has downs syndrome, her name is Danica. You can frequently find me and my sassy friend splashing around at the Kingsley pool or supporting our Panther athletes at sporting events.
Football
I am a big college football fan. From Labor day weekend to the beginning of January all of my Saturdays are busy, watching college football. I have to start my mornings watching Kirk Herbstreit on College Game Day and then my Saturday begins. It doesn't really matter who is playing unless it is Notre Dame. I am a CRAZY Notre Dame fan. I guess I have been a fan since I was about four years old and my grandparents bought me a Notre Dame cheerleading outfit while visiting my Aunt Sherri, at Notre Dame, while she was a grad school. I love going to games with my family. My Papa got me hooked when he took me to my very first ND game in 2008. Last year I got to go to my first college football bowl game as I drove to Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl with my Aunt Sherri. I have also been to Notre Dame's Football 101 Camp (breast cancer awareness fundraiser) several times. Go IRISH!
Fitness
Fitness has recently become a huge part of my life. After struggling with my weight for most of my life I made a commitment to myself to live a healthier life. Eating right and exercising helped me to lose over 100 lbs and started my path to a happier, healthier me. I continue to workout and coach at Top-Tier-Fit, a group fitness gym, in Sioux City. Yoga is another practice I have picked up along the way which helps strengthen me, mind, body and soul. During my journey I have made goal setting a priority in my life. Running a 5k and participating in a triathlon have been goals that I have accomplished along the way. Running a half marathon and becoming a certified yoga instructor are goals that are still on my list. Setting goals is an extremely important aspect of becoming a successful person. I encourage my students to set goals and put them in our goal jar in my classroom.
Teaching
Once a Panther, always a Panther. I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2007 with a business teaching and special education degree. I have been teaching at Kingsley-Pierson since February 2011. I started at K-P at the Middle School teaching special education and I also taught computer literacy. I started as the high school business teacher during the 2014-2015 school year. I love teaching at the high school and preparing our young adults for the "real world". Continuing to learn as a teacher is extremely important to me. I am always striving to be the best teacher I can be. I do this by participating in conferences and attending and facilitating training. During the summer of 2016 I was able to complete and attain my Google Certified Educator Level 2 certificate.
Starting in August 2017 I will start pursuing my masters degree at the University of Northern Iowa. I will be working towards a degree in Instructional Technology.
I have added to my extra-curricular activities, I am the High School Speech coach and a Track Wrestling statistician. I have been a MS Track and Girls Basketball coach. I also enjoy helping out with cheerleading every now and then. Supporting our students in all of their activities is extremely important to me.
"I call my students "my kids" because in our year together they aren´t just kids on my class list, they become a part of my heart"
Technology
Technology has always been a passion of mine. I love to "geek out" on the new technology that is out there! My job allows me to share this passion with my students and now it will allow me to share it with my fellow teachers. I will begin a new teaching/coaching adventure during the 2016-2017 school year as I will be a Digital Literacy Coach for grades 7-12 at KP. In this new position I will be helping my peers integrate technology into their classrooms. I am excited that I get to stay in my classroom with my students and add this new facet to my career.