What is your role at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School?
7th Grade Language Arts

What year did you start working at St. Stephen?
2021

Tell us about your education background & about your teaching/work experience.
Education:

• Bachelors Degree in Business Administration (minors in Human Resource Management and English), UNK
• Masters in Education, College of St. Mary
• Endorsed in 5-9 Language Arts
• Endorsed in 7-12 Business Management Information Technology (BMIT)

Work History: I worked at St. Vincent de Paul for 15 years; the last two as the 6-8 Educational Strategist (like a TEAMS teacher). I have done several long-term sub positions at other Catholic schools.

What do you love about your job?
Every day is a different adventure and no two days are alike. Middle schoolers are fun, funny, enthusiastic, and curious. They have a growing awareness of the world around them and I enjoy being a part of their journey. I am super passionate about the content I teach and love sharing that passion with my students.

Who is your favorite Saint or what is your favorite scripture?
Corinthians 13:4-8 - I know this is one of the more popular passages, but one that has resonated with me in every stage of my life.

Tell us about your family (spouse, children, grandchildren, pets, etc.):
I have been married for 29 years and have two adult children. I also have an 8 month old energetic Goldendoodle.

What is your favorite sweet treat?
It's hard to pinpoint one, but I do love chocolate chip cookies.

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?
I recently gotten back into cross-stitching.

What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?
I love to read, hike, play board games, and spend time with family and friends.

What piece of advice would you give parents to help their child(ren) succeed at St. Stephen?
Meet your child where he/she is at and recognize that everyone learns at a different pace and in different ways. Encourage your child to take ownership of his/her learning and discover his/her talents. Be there to listen and offer guidance, but try not to solve the problem. Keep the lines of commutation open between your child, you, and his/her teacher; we are all working towards the same goal. Be their cheerleader and enjoy this time as the year will be over in a flash.