What is your professional title or area of expertise? 

Strategist, Healthcare Communications

How did you discover Montessori? 

Hilariously, I overheard another mom in prenatal yoga expounding the virtues of the philosophy. "Every child should experience the Montessori classroom." I felt so out of the loop in the way only a brand-new parent can feel, and I immediately went home and Googled "Montessori," then "Montessori daycare" and "Montessori Winston-Salem." I read everything I could get my hands on - it really resonated - and as soon as my first was old enough, we enrolled in a Montessori toddler program and never looked back.

Why do you love being on the WSM Board? 

My appreciation for board service at WSM is two-fold: 1) The opportunity to give back to an organization (and the people) who have given our family so much. 2) The strategic work of ensuring a healthy organization for the next 50 years is incredibly special - how many students' lives will we touch during that time? How many families, faculty, and community members?

What about WSM attracted you to the school? 

Our wonderful guides and peaceful classroom environments - it was immediately apparent that magic was happening here at WSM.

How are you connected to WSM? Do you have students who attend? 

We initially joined the community as parents, more than 10 years ago. During our first tour, my husband looked me in the eye and said, "I would have really thrived in this environment." He meant, of course, "ahem, our daughter, who is just like me, NEEDS to be at THIS school." Our oldest, Ellie (15), has since graduated from the exceptional Adolescent Program and is moving on to high school. Mia (11) is thriving in the Upper Elementary classroom, and June (5) can't wait to follow in her big sisters' footsteps, though she loves Children's House. All told, by the time we're through, we'll have put three students through the program from Toddler or Children's House through AP for a combined total of 35 years in Montessori! 

What is a fun fact/interest/hobby you’d like to share? 

Between my husband and I, we've got three children and all of their activities, a dog (Kevin) and a pet snake, and a couple of more-than-full-time jobs - board service is my hobby. I adore cooking and feeding friends and family, and when I can squeeze it in, I love hot yoga. I also have a tendency to periodically binge-read - typically about whatever my hyper-focus of the month is.

Fun Fact: I've competed in two Collegiate Club National Championships for Triathlon.