I was born in Michigan where I lived until 2007, when we moved to California. After I graduated from Central Michigan University, I began working at Brighton Hospital, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. I loved that setting and worked there for nearly ten years. Toward the end of my time there, I decided the part I loved most about my job was working with the teens. At that time I decided to begin getting my teaching certificate at Eastern Michigan University. I was very fortunate and got a teaching job right away at an alternative school. I taught half of the day and was the drug counselor for the second half of the day. I taught there for three years before moving to California. This is my ninth school year teaching in California, and my fifth year at Luiseno. I also have two kids at Luiseno, one in sixth grade and one in eighth.