Hello and welcome! I frequently get asked about my professional background, so I thought I would include that here for those who are interested :)

First and foremost, I am a proud homeschool Mom of 3 amazing kiddos: ages 12, 10, and 7. If you’ve attended some of my classes you’ve likely met one (or more) of them already. They are my inspiration and the reason behind everything that I do.

Professionally, I have extensive experience working with children and teaching across various settings - blending academic, therapeutic, and practical approaches. As the founder of Skills For Life, LLC, I create and teach hands-on, interdisciplinary STEM classes to homeschool students. These fun, engaging classes emphasize critical thinking and practical application, showcasing an ability to design engaging curricula tailored to diverse learners. Additionally, I collaborate with parents and educational organizations to ensure content meets the needs of the community (I do design and teach for individual co-op groups, etc.)

My prior teaching experience spans higher education and community college settings. At Grand Canyon University, I served as an Assistant Professor and Field Experience Supervisor, mentoring graduate students, managing field placements, and teaching courses like Psychopathology and Addiction Studies. Similarly, at Rio Salado College, I taught courses in the Chemical Dependency Program and developed professional education seminars focused on addiction studies. Throughout my professional career I have received numerous awards in recognition of my passion for teaching and a demonstrated excellence for education.

Beyond teaching, I bring a strong background in therapy and child-focused mental health services. As a therapist at Devereux Arizona, I provided individual and family therapy to youth with mental health challenges. At Valle del Sol I worked with children in diverse settings, including foster homes, schools, and detention facilities. My earlier experience as a preschool teacher further helped me to develop and foster developmentally appropriate learning in young children.

This rich combination of teaching, curriculum design, and therapeutic work underscores my deep commitment to supporting and educating children. Of all the populations I’ve worked with, teaching homeschool kids is my absolute favorite! If you’ve attended one of my classes, you know how much I treasure every student I am fortunate enough to meet. They are so incredibly smart, inventive, imaginative, caring, and much more!!

Thank you for reading! I look forward to meeting all of you!