Bachelor of Arts 1988, Master of Arts 1989 Austin College
Administration Certification 2005 Texas A & M Commerce
My path to the ATP was unconventional and unexpected. I was not the person who grew up playing school and wanted to become a teacher. However, God had another plan for my life. During my second year of college at another school in the area, I had a “crystal clear calling” to change my career path from accounting to education. I visited Austin College and immediately knew that this was the perfect fit for me. The liberal arts education I received at Austin College enabled me to become an independent thinker, a life-long learner, and a compassionate and empathetic human being. The education I received from the ATP provided a strong foundation upon which I have built a long and successful career as a teacher, reading specialist, principal, and, currently, a professional development specialist for Istation, an educational technology company. My ATP professors were exceptional and to this very day they are my educational heroes and heroines. Each one consistently modeled the teaching behaviors and effective instructional practices they were teaching us, so that we could become high impact teachers just as they were. I still want to be like them when I grow up! Dr. Robert Marzano says “Creating conditions for others to be successful is one of the highest duties of leadership.” The Austin Teacher Program fulfills its duties with excellence. I will forever be grateful that one of the stops on my life path was at the ATP!
- Bells Elementary School, Bells, Texas, Teacher 1989-2004
- Crutchfield Elementary School, Sherman, Texas, Asst. Principal 2004-2005
- Fairview Elementary School, Sherman, Texas, Principal 2005-2012
- Bells Elementary School, Bells, Texas, Principal 2012-2016 (retired)
- Istation, Dallas, Texas, Professional Development Specialist, 2016-present