I was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and moved to Jacksonville, Florida, when I was five years old. I grew up in schools where my mother worked and watched teachers create and teach lessons that inspired me to teach. I began teaching reading at my church to 4- and 5-year-olds at age 15, using Bible stories and felt storyboards, and my love for education bloomed from there. I grew up around a diverse group of people because of my family's military background and learned teaching styles from educators in Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and across the Caribbean. In 2017, I received my Bachelor’s of Arts in Theatre from the University of West Florida. After graduation, I spent a year as a City Year corpsmember in my hometown. I saw fourth-grade students unable to read the books I had loved and learned from, and I put my theatre career on hold to become a teacher.

7 years later, I am an educator and graduate student of Grand Canyon University seeking my Master’s degree in Instructional Design

I believe in blending the arts, culture, and brain-based learning into my lessons and designs.