My road to teaching has been long.  It began on a hot July day in Dallas, Texas when I was born the third child of a Presbyterian minister and a teacher.  Only three years later, I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where I spent the next eighteen years of my life.  I was raised, surrounded by an affluent community, in a family that teetered financially on the edge of the haves and have nots, but until I was much older I never realized it.  Values were strong in my parents’ family. 

    I was a restless high school student with fond memories of my elementary and middle school days.  I didn’t have much use for adolescence and my drive for adulthood committed me to gather enough credits by my junior year that I graduated one year ahead of my class.  I attempted college to please my parents, but soon realized a degree in business was not for me.  The trail I blazed made me a licensed paramedic, where I was able to apply my love for helping people.  I also found the love of a transplanted midwestern Social Worker working in the local emergency room.

    Once married, we returned to her roots in Michigan where I realized that to afford our dreams of parenthood and still have a career helping others, it was time to hang up my stethoscope and pick up the books.  I returned to college in 2000 with my own motivation, on my own dime.  I was bent on becoming a teacher without sinking my family in debt, so I attained a position with a global marketing firm while going to school year round.  Ironically over the next seven years, I worked my way into business leadership, but maintained my determination to teach.  During this time we had two children, renovated a house, finished the teaching degree, sold the house, moved to a new one, and both changed careers…and we still like each other!  With their support and a handful of daily prayers, I keep focus on living the dream of being a teacher.  And the rest, as they say…

5th Grade	Today