I am a true native of Washington State. I was born in Seattle and spent all but three years growing up in the Seattle area. I attended the U of W and received a degree in Speech and Hearing. I spent the next few years volunteering and traveling before I decided to go back to school to obtain my elementary education certification. A couple of those years were spent at Holden Village. One of which, I worked as the para educator in the school. I attended WWU and received my second degree in Education. My husband Rolf and I also began our family in Bellingham. My oldest daughter was 2 years old when we decided to move to Central Washington. After a year of substituting, I was hired as a second grade teacher in Manson. That was 1992. I have taught kindergarten through sixth grade with the exception of first and fifth. I have especially enjoyed working with children who are learning English as a second language. Teaching at Holden Village has been a long time dream of mine.