I was raised on a farm near Kensington, Kansas and graduated from West Smith County before the school's consolidation with Eastern Heights (now known as Thunder Ridge). I earned my bachelor degrees in Psychology and English from the University of Nebraska, Kearney. After my college graduation, I found my new home in Minnesota and earned a Master's degree in English from Minnesota State University, Mankato. I am pleased to be in Kansas, teaching both secondary English Language Arts at Rock Hills High School and concurrent college courses through Cloud County Community College. I completed my master's in Education from Fort Hays State University.