I was born in Warren, Michigan, but was raised in Ionia. While a student at Ionia High School I participated in band, was head photographer of the yearbook staff, and played varsity basketball. I come from a family of educators. My parents were both teachers. My mom taught third grade for three years in Centerline, Michigan before deciding to stay home and raise a family. My dad taught history and government at Roseville High School and Roseville Brablec High School. He also coached track, cross country and basketball. He later went into administration and served as a principal in South Lyon, Avondale and Ionia. In 1987 he secured a job as Superintendent at Springport and later served in the same capacity for the Dowagiac Union Schools in Dowagiac, Michigan, until his retirement in 1999. He currently is a board member for the Dowagiac Union Schools, and volunteers for a myriad of organizations in Cass County, including Meals on Wheels and the Cass County Council on Aging.

After graduating from Ionia High School, I attended Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. I majored in English and minored in History and earned my Bachelor of Science in Education with an elementary certification. While in college, I was a member of the CMU marching band, known as the Marching Chips. It was a wonderful experience being a part of that group and I made many lifelong friends. After graduating from CMU, I applied for teaching jobs around the state of Michigan and the country. Although I preferred to stay in Michigan, I wasn't against moving, either, sending out resumes as far away as Somerset, Wisconsin and Casa Grande, Arizona. At that time in the teaching profession, there were always many more candidates than jobs. In June of 1993, I interviewed for a fifth grade position at East Jackson Community Schools. I was offered the job the next day and accepted. Since that time, I've taught fifth grade, sixth grade social studies, sixth grade language arts, third grade and fourth grade. While teaching at East Jackson Middle School, I coached 7th and 8th grade girls basketball, 8th grade boys basketball, 7th grade volleyball, and track.

In 2000 I started teaching 3rd grade at Memorial School. When Memorial and Robinson schools closed after the 2014-15 school year to move into the new East Jackson Elementary, I maintained that position. In the 2019-2020 school year, I taught a 3/4 grade split class. I have been teaching 4th grade since the 2020-2021 school year. In my spare time I enjoy reading, coaching basketball, home improvement projects and spending time with my family.

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