I am incredibly honored to begin my leadership career at Atchison Elementary School I am a passionate educator dedicated to building strong relationships with students, staff, families, and community members. I am committed to creating a challenging learning environment and believe in setting high expectations for all students to promote student and academic growth and success.
I have gained valuable experience as a classroom teacher for the past 14 years with the Fort Leavenworth and Pleasant Ridge School Districts, teaching second grade and fifth grade at the elementary level and math at the middle school level. I received a Master of Arts in School Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Benedictine College in Atchison and a Master of Arts in Education from Baker University.
Throughout my career, I have served on numerous leadership committees including District Leadership Team, Building Leadership Team, and Instructional Support Team. I have been involved in numerous coaching and volunteer opportunities and have thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in roles such as volleyball coach, student council sponsor, and religious education teacher. My husband and I have two children and reside in rural Jefferson County where we are actively involved in 4-H and enjoy spending time outdoors.
I am very grateful for the privilege of continuing to serve the students of Atchison and USD 409! My educational philosophy is that our role as educators is to challenge students to become the best versions of themselves to ensure they are prepared for what life presents them.
I began my teaching career here in Atchison 9 years ago and taught science at the high school for 8 years while coaching a variety of sports including basketball, golf, and soccer. The experiences I gained working with the students and families in Atchison have prepared me for the next step in my leadership career and I have loved working at AES!
I grew up in Hiawatha, Kansas and attended Kansas State University where I received my Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education for Earth and Space Science. I received my Master's Degree in School Leadership from Benedictine College, here in Atchison! My wife and I have made Atchison our home and we have two wonderful children.