What degree(s) do you hold? From what school(s)? What was your area of concentration?

B.A. in Plan II and English, University of Texas at Austin

What is your previous work experience? 

Homeschooling my three children led me down the path of teaching others as our family started book clubs and became involved in various co-ops where I taught classes, including Classical Conversations and Classical Christian Home School of Austin. I also worked for five years teaching a range of ages at a part-time school that emphasized Socratic teaching and project-based learning.

Tell us a little about your family: 

I’ve been married to Tim for 24 years, and we have three wonderful children. We also have two dogs, Stella and Cho Cho (who are sometimes wonderful and sometimes not). One of my favorite aspects of both mothering and teaching is the conversations we have about life, literature, faith, and ideas. We also find plenty to laugh about together!

What do you enjoy about Classical education? 

I love that classical education is meant to make all of us more fully human. We were created in God’s image with the ability to know Him as the truth, reflect Him as goodness, and behold His beauty. The more we do so, the more we grow in wisdom and virtue, and the more truly human we become. Classical education, I believe, points us in the right direction because it has the clearest view of who we are and what we are for. It acknowledges God as the source of ALL truth and the center of all we study, rather than putting Him in a sealed box to opened only on Sunday mornings or during personal devotions. Teaching in a community that shares that a vision is a true privilege for me!

What do you like to do in your free time? 

I love to travel, although the pandemic has put a bit of a damper on that in the last year or so. (Silver lining: I started a garden!) My main hobby is reading, and my favorite genres would have to be narrative nonfiction (history-related) and historical fiction, in addition to books that help me grow in my faith. My book club has been running for about seven years now, and that has expanded my reading palate as well.

What do you hope your students will learn from you this year?

I’d love for my students to know that I see them primarily as image-bearers of a creative, rational, and utterly good God. I hope they see the characters we encounter in history and literature as invitations to consider: What kind of person do I want to be? What choices will I make to become that kind of person? How can I, even at a young age, partner with our redeeming God in my little corner of this earth as He makes all things new? Please let me know how I can help or encourage you and your student(s) this year! I’m happy to hear from families should any questions, ideas, or concerns arise.