I was born in Dubuque, Iowa and grew up in three states: Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota. I graduated from Brookings High School in Brookings, South Dakota.  After graduation, I attended Mankato State University in Mankato, Minnesota.  I received my  Bachelors degree in Elementary Education in December 1992. I began teaching in September 1993 in the Transition Room at Central Elementary. In 1995, I was transferred to Mickelson Middle School. While teaching, I went back to school at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. In August of 2001, I received my Masters degree in Special Education.

I enjoy spending time with my family. My husband, Scott works at Daktronics. He enjoys riding bike and working in the yard. Olivia, my 12 year-old daughter attends Mickelson Middle School and loves to read and swim. My son, Weston, is 7 years old and attends 1st grade at Hillcrest Elementary. Weston spends his time building with Legos and jumping on the trampoline. Scott and I have recently become legal guardians of two boys from Pasan, Korea. Sung Ha (Joshua) is 18 and attends Brookings High School and Myung Ha (Issac) is an 8th grader at Mickelson Middle School. Both boys enjoy baseball and playing on the computer.

Olivia and Weston