I was born and raised in Indiana but moved west right out of high school.  I started at Montana State University for Animal Science but left to live in Alaska for a year and then transferred to Central Washington University to major in Geography.  Afterwards, I attended the University of Texas for a Master's Degree in Geography - focusing on Cultural Ecology (people's impact on the environment).  During this time, I worked as an intern at the National Geographic Society for a semester and then as a summer employee.

To help students see how a person grows and discovers careers, here was my path to teaching:

Cafeteria worker (high school), animal clinic receptionist (Alaska) Arby's employee (Alaska), Bureau of Land Management secretary (Alaska), wilderness ranger (Washington), logistics coordinator- National Geographic Society, Forester (Oregon), County Planner (Idaho, Washington) Teacher (Highland FOREVER).  I LOVE being a teacher the most!!  It is who I am versus being a job.

Miscellaneous:  With my parents, I lived in Scotland (age 4), Spain (age 11) and Portugal (age 17).  My dad was a professor at Purdue University and took the family with him when he did research in other countries.  I am now content to stay in the Pacific Northwest where I like to read, knit, and be outside in my free time.

Please feel free to connect with me via email for concerns, questions, sharing, etc.!