I began my career at Edinburg as a Kindergarten student. My family moved to Edinburg from Springfield when I was five years old. After graduating from Edinburg High School in 1984, I attended and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1988 as a physical education and health educator. I was hired as a Kindergarten aide that same year and attended the University of Illinois at Springfield and received my elementary certification and was hired as a fifth grade teacher in 1990. During my career, I have taught first, second, fourth, and fifth grades and elementary physical education. In 2017, I received my Reading Specialist and master degree. I have taught Title I Reading since 2015.