I came to the field of education by a circuitous route. I graduated with a B.A. in zoology from the University of New Hampshire, where I developed a fascination for marine science. This led me to pursue a Master's degree in Invertebrate Zoology at the University of Alberta, where I did research on the biology of sea squirts. After spending 3 years in San Francisco, my husband and I moved to Fairbanks where I worked for 5 years on a variety of research projects that utilized light and electron microscopes.

After a move to Kodiak in 1996, a course in Children's Literature changed my direction in life! I earned my teaching credential from UA Southeast in 1999, and started my teaching career in the Kodiak Island Borough School District. I completed my tenth exciting and rewarding year as an elementary teacher, mostly in multi-age classrooms. During that time, I was especially interested in helping my students develop a conceptual understanding of math and science, and differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students. I am eagerly looking forward to my second year of mentoring, contributing to the growth of beginning teachers and the success of their students.