I began teaching Middle School Production at Roosevelt Magnet School in Peoria, IL, in 2018. I previously taught 2nd Grade, High School Art & Graphic Design and I have taught dance since 1994 (which makes me "really old"). I am currently the director for Guidance Dance Company at JumpStart in Peoria and teach dance there after school during the week.
I graduated from Bradley University in 1997 with a BS in Communications and a BS in Psychology. I spent 20 years in broadcast television and post production, working at news stations like WEEKTV25, WAVE3, & as a network editor for the Military Channel. I have worked in live production & post production here in Central Illinois and I still freelance in the area. I really enjoy directing concerts and live production when I get the chance!
In 2015 God called me to make a change and leave the world of full time production to teach full time. With my own children entering middle school and high school the demands of production were making it difficult for me to be present for all their needs. Knowing I needed a change that would allow me to spend more time with my family I began to think about a career change. I have always loved teaching, whether it was teaching a 3 year old dance or teaching an adult how to run a camera, teaching has always been the most enjoyable part of every job I have had. Through my work in production, I saw the need for teachers in our state, especially in PSD150. I just knew I needed to be part of the solution. That summer, I got my substitute license and went back to school to get my Masters Degree in Education. I began working as a longterm substitute filling in all year in places where there were no teachers available. During the 2015-16 school year I was assigned to Roosevelt Magnet School . I was teaching Dance (which is my favorite) and I fell in love with the kids! During the 2016-17 school year I was asked to teach at Peoria High School, this time I was teaching Art & Graphic Design. It was so fun to be able to use my production experience to teach the students at PHS skills they could use in the field of production. When I finished my degree in April 2017, RMS called again and asked if I could finish the year teaching dance. Of course I said yes, and well the rest is history!
Oh, and probably one of the most unique things about me personally
(that my students love to tell everyone) is that I have Triplets!
Born in 2006, my Boy-Girl-Boy triplets, my older son & my 2 step children keep me on my toes!