I have been an educator since 1997. I graduated with a master’s degree in Human Development and Washington State teaching certificate from Pacific Oaks College. Soon after graduating, I was hired as a Title 1 teacher for the Seattle School District. During that time, I worked for a K-8 school that had a hands-on, child-centered philosophy, including experiential curriculum that required teachers take their classrooms on monthly field trips and annual camping trips. Prior to becoming a certified teacher, I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington after completing an AA degree from North Seattle Community College. 

Since then, I've been working in both the technology and education fields for over 20 years. My career as scholar practitioner began in 2010 at Walden University where I taught online college courses in Educational Leadership during my last two years prior to completing my doctoral degree. In 2019, I relocated to the Tri-Cities to accept an Assistant Professor position with Columbia Basin College. 

I dedicate my time in the early childhood education (ECE) community to share my passion for anti-bias, emergent, culturally relevant, and child-centered pedagogy. As the founder of a ground-breaking nature-based preschool in 2010 on the Olympic Peninsula that continues to thrive, I now enjoy my college teaching career as a lifelong advocate of learning through play and developmentally appropriate ECE that is based on nurturing children's sense of well-being and wonder.