ABOUT
I am a provisional mental health professional and longtime educator and I am running for the State Board of Education District 2, which includes Sarpy, Cass, Otoe, Johnson and Nemaha counties.
One of the main pillars that I am running on is ensuring that all children in Nebraska have access to the same resources. All students deserve equitable access to quality education, regardless of a student’s background or location. I support initiatives that will reduce achievement gaps and improve outcomes for all students.
My husband and I currently reside in Bellevue. I graduated from Scottsbluff Public Schools in 2000; earned a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Creighton University in 2004; earned two Master’s Degrees from the University of Nebraska-Omaha – one in secondary education and the other in clinical mental health counseling; and earned a Master’s degree in math education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
My classroom experience includes teaching for Omaha Public Schools for ten years, during which I was named one of the Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award winners in 2019. Prior to working for OPS, I taught at Christ the King School in Omaha for five years. I currently substitute teach for OPS and supervise student teachers for UNO. I have also been an adjunct professor for Metropolitan Community College in Omaha for the past ten years.
My qualifications give me the experience needed to better craft policies that address the needs of educators. Supporting educators is essential because Nebraska needs to combat the teacher shortage by attracting and retaining talented educators.
I believe there is a disconnect between practice and policy. I also believe I have the life skills, knowledge, and personal and professional experience to form and strengthen those connections.
As a provisional mental health professional, I work with clients to tackle issues such as anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder. Having a board member with thorough knowledge of mental health issues will be an asset to the Nebraska State Board of Education as well.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have.