1. What is your role at Athens, and how long have you been here?
I teach AP Psychology and English 10 at Athens. This is my 25th year in education, and I am proud to say that 23 of those years have been spent at Athens. It is hard to believe I have been teaching for that long because I still genuinely love being in the classroom. Each year brings a new group of students, new personalities, and new opportunities to make connections. I feel very fortunate that, after 25 years, I still look forward to coming to school, getting to know my students, and hopefully creating a classroom they enjoy being part of.
2. What is your educational background?
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Psychology from Western Michigan University and my master’s degree in English and Education from the University of Detroit Mercy. I am fortunate to teach two subjects that I genuinely love. While psychology and English may seem very different, both are ultimately centered on understanding people, such as the way we think, behave, communicate, and make sense of the world around us. That connection is one of the reasons I have found teaching both subjects so rewarding.
3. What do you enjoy most about working with our students and staff?
Without question, the relationships are what I enjoy most about working at Athens. My favorite part of teaching has always been getting to know my students as people, not simply as students sitting in my classroom. I love the conversations, the laughter, and the everyday moments that make each group of students and each school year unique. The students at Athens are some of the kindest, most compassionate, and genuinely generous young people I have had the privilege of teaching. One of the best parts of teaching for as long as I have is reconnecting with former students and learning where life has taken them. I love when they stop by, send an email, or reach out just to say hello. There is something incredibly special about seeing a student years later and realizing that, even if only for a short time, we were part of each other’s lives. I have also been fortunate to work alongside incredibly dedicated, talented, and caring colleagues who genuinely want the best for our students and for one another. I have developed wonderful friendships with many of them over the years. Some of those friendships have lasted for decades, and those colleagues have truly become like family. The relationships I have built with both students and colleagues are the biggest part of what has made Athens such a special place for me.
4. What is one accomplishment or part of your work you are most proud of?
After 25 years of teaching, I am most proud of the relationships I have built with my students and the impact I hope I have had on their lives. I am certainly proud when my students succeed academically, challenge themselves, earn strong AP scores, or discover an interest in psychology or English, but I believe the most meaningful part of teaching extends beyond grades and test scores. I have always worked to create a classroom where students feel respected, supported, challenged, and comfortable being themselves. I want my students to leave my classroom knowing more than when they entered, but I also want them to know that I genuinely cared about them and believed in their ability to succeed. When former students tell me that something they learned in my class stayed with them, influenced what they chose to study, or simply made their
high school experience a little better, that means more to me than any test score or grade ever could. Knowing that I have made a positive difference in the lives of my students is, without question, the greatest accomplishment of my career.
5. What is something you enjoy outside of school (hobby, interest, or fun fact)?
I love spending time with my family and friends, and I also really enjoy traveling and cooking authentic dishes inspired by the places I have visited. I have been fortunate to travel with students on two Athens Abroad trips. I went to Italy in 2023 and England, Ireland, and Scotland in 2025. Those trips were especially memorable because there is something incredible about experiencing another part of the world alongside students and watching them discover new places and cultures for the first time. They have also given me the opportunity to get to know students outside of the classroom and create memories I will always treasure. This past summer, I returned to Italy and visited Greece for the first time with my husband. Traveling truly is my passion. I am usually either planning a trip, talking about a trip I just took, or thinking about where I want to go next!
6. What makes the Athens community special to you?
After 23 years, Athens has become much more than simply the place where I work. It has been a significant part of both my professional and personal life. Over the years, I have developed lifelong friendships, taught multiple siblings from the same families, watched students grow into adults, celebrated their accomplishments, and created countless memories. There is a genuine sense of connection and school pride at Athens that makes this community one of a kind. I am grateful to be a teacher at Athens, even though I graduated from Troy High, and proud of the career I have built here. When I look back over the past 23 years, I realize just how many people, experiences, and relationships are connected to this school. I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent the majority of my career in a community that has given me so much, both professionally and personally. I feel very fortunate to call Athens home.
