Where did you grow up? I did my early childhood and preteen growing up between the cities of Orem and Pleasant Grove. My teen years and young adult years were spent in Phoenix, Tempe, and Snowflake, Arizona.

What is your favorite food? Navajo Tacos

What is your least favorite food? Liver

What is something unique or surprising about you? I started riding horses when I was 7 years old. It wasn’t until I was living on the Navajo Reservation where I put that knowledge to work…I rode every day…sometimes with my daughter riding in a knapsack attached to me. We would be out most of the day rounding up cattle. Spring we would round all of them up into the corral to brand the new babies.

What is your favorite subject to teach? If you were to ask this question to all my past students, especially Joaquin 5th graders, they would tell you SCIENCE! They would always remark that “everything became a science question.” Present and former Westridge students would probably say science as well…but I have an awful lot of fun teaching math too!

Who was your favorite teacher and why? My favorite teacher was my 5th grade teacher at Central Elementary in Pleasant Grove. His name was Harvey Rawlinson. He must have recognized a young lady who was struggling for reasons he did not know, but regardless, he made me feel important. I got to be the registrar when we “voted” during the 1972 election. (We ended up choosing Nixon.) He also worked with me on the Presidential Medal of Fitness…I didn’t get it but I really appreciated that Mr. Rawlinson cared enough to help me try. I remember our field trip to the other side of Utah Lake and being responsible for doing a bulletin board for the Month of September with Natalie and Betsy (students). He was my favorite because he sought first to have a positive relationship with students He realized that growing academically came after trust was built.

Why did you choose to be a teacher? I chose to be a teacher because I wanted to be like Mr. Rawlinson. I wanted to change the lives of students who possibly were struggling like I did as a child. I wanted children to know that no matter what–I cared about them and that they were important to me.

What would you like your students to remember this year? I want my students to remember that they are important, that they matter. All students can learn no matter how fast or how slow they “get it.” They will get it!