I graduated from Southern Utah University with my Bachelors in Family Life Human Development and worked in a school teaching social skills. I fell in love with being in the classroom and decided to go back to school to get my Masters in Elementary Education at Western Governors University. I am relatively new here at Hayden Peak but have already grown to love it so much and call it home. I love to travel, play sports, sing and do anything outdoors.
I love being a teacher and am so glad that I chose to be a part of this profession! I grew up in Delta, Utah, attended Snow College and finished my bachelors degree at Utah State University. In 2016 I completed my Masters of Education degree at Southern Utah University. I have been a part of the Hayden Peak Community since 1999. It is a great school and a great community and I feel privileged to teach the children here.
When I am not teaching I enjoy spending time with family, hiking, biking, gardening, playing the piano, cooking and reading and serving my community. My husband and I have 2 married daughters, and 2 married sons. We have 13 grandchildren and really enjoy being parents and grandparents.
In my classroom, I try to value the creativity and individuality of each child by building upon their strengths. I believe that education changes lives and to successfully educate children best practices must be used guided by data driven instruction. Nelson Mandela put it best when he said, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.”
I have worked at Hayden Peak since 2013, but I have worked in the Jordan School District since 2008. Prior to working at the Jordan School District I began working for the Carbon County School District in 1988. My love of children is the reason I became a teacher. Some of my hobbies include camping, 4-wheeling, boating, driving my motorcycle, art and hanging out with my grandchildren and the dogs.
I began my teaching career in 2000, when I taught sixth grade ELA at an international school in Bangkok, Thailand. Twenty-two years and a lot of school later, it’s interesting to see my career loop back around to these 11 and 12-year old souls! I’m coming back to the elementary classroom after obtaining my PhD from Arizona State University in 2011 and teaching at a small liberal arts university for nine years. My family and I moved to Utah from Oregon in 2020 for my husband’s career and we are growing to love this community. When I’m not teaching, you’ll find me hanging out with my littles, walking or riding my bike, crafting, or writing in my notebook. In my classroom, I work to prioritize a strong classroom community of learners who reach for their best and highest potential. I want every kiddo who works with me to feel confident, joyful, and interested in bettering the world around them.