Position: Family and Consumer Science teacher (Foods I/II/III/IV, LIFE, Child Development)

Hometown (High School): Gilman, Ill. (Gilman High School [now Iroquois West High School])

College/University (Degree): Northeast Missouri State University [now Truman State University] (Bachelors)/Olivet Nazarene University (Masters)/Olivet Nazarene University (Masters)

Years at Central High School: 20

Favorite thing about Central High School: Small town feel/small town school

Why you got into teaching: Four reasons:

• To provide students with a safe place to be seen and heard just as they are.

• To assist students in becoming productive members of our local communities and the greater world.

• To educate students on topics that will impact their day-to-day living and to ensure they are provided with the tools to successfully do so.

• To help students understand who they are as an individual and that they are worthy of love and kindness.

High school activities/groups/clubs/sports: National Honor Society, Illini Girls State, Color Guard, FHA, FFA, yearbook staff, newspaper staff, track, play, musicals

Favorite subject in school: Art and English

Favorite teacher: Mrs. Slack

Favorite snack: Anything healthy (fruit/crackers & cheese/nuts and seeds)

Favorite book: The Left Behind series

Favorite activity away from school: Traveling

Favorite sports team: Green Bay Packers

Something unique: I have a Barbie doll collection with approximately 100 dolls and a PEZ collection with approximately 150 dispensers.