I hold four education degrees from UGA, Kennesaw State, West Georgia, and Lincoln Memorial University. My areas of specialization in the classroom were in Social Studies (broad-based History and Government) and Mathematics (up to High School Algebra). I also was a teacher in the Gifted program for fifteen years. In addition to my classroom teaching duties, I also served as an academic tutor for homeless and displaced students and as a basketball coach. My administrative years were spent with elementary school students. As a teacher and coach, I was known for being fun, but firm, interesting, but intense in my expectations.and I was not afraid to try different things to ensure that true teaching and authentic learning occurred for my students. During my last five years in the classroom, my students had a 98+ percent meets and exceeds pass rate on their subject-specific state standardized tests. I was honored to serve as the President of the Georgia Association of Educators for four years; in which, I was able to travel throughout the state and nation engaging students and other educators to advocate for the positive transformation power of how public education empowers and enhances the lives of millions of students and their families throughout our nation. In my spare time, I enjoy amusement parks (love roller coasters), college athletics (Go Dawgs), oldies music (swing and big band), ballroom dancing, and cruises..when I'm not going to the movies with my daughter (my Russian princess) or the park with my rescue dog, Doyle.

Travel, Oldies Music, College Athletics, Roller Coasters, Cruises, Weekend Adventures with my Daughter