I graduated college in 2000 and moved out to California to start my adventure of teaching 3rd grade and exploring my new, beautiful surroundings.  After six months my (future) husband moved out to California to join me and together we explored the beautiful nature that surrounded us.  In 2003 we were married (in the backyard of my childhood home in Minnesota) and began our very own family.

After two years we moved to Illinois to be closer to family. While in Illinois our family continued to grown when our first daughter was born in 2004 and our son joined us in 2006.  I continued my teaching dream while teaching 2nd grade, in a suburb of Chicago, with an amazing group of ladies. During this time, I decided to go back to school to get my master's degree as a reading teacher/reading specialist.  At the time, I didn't know where this new degree would lead me, but I am incredibly thankful that I took this opportunity for more schooling.  It lead me to my true passion and dream, 15 years later, and for that I am grateful.  

After a few years in Illinois, we decided to move to Wisconsin to be closer to both of our families.  I began teaching 3rd grade and continued that for a few years until I decided to make a change.  While I loved working with 3rd grade students, I began to realize that my passion was working with young and struggling readers on the foundational skills of reading.  After a few years in 3rd grade I took the leap and switched to teaching 1st grade.  While it was definitely challenging....I found that I LOVED working with 1st graders!  While preparing materials for my struggling first graders at home, I began to realize that one of my own children was struggling with their reading progress.  This began our long journey into trying to figure out what resources were available to help our own children with their reading.

After my first year teaching 1st grade, I decided to make another leap and switch to teaching in the district that my own children attended.  I was again teaching 3rd grade and loved being so close to my own children!  After a couple years in 3rd grade, the opportunity presented again, and I was able to transfer to a 1st grade position in my school.  Once again, I was back doing what I loved and working with the young students on foundational skills.  During this time, we began our own family journey learning about, and discovering our own mental health issues....that led to a lot of research and knowledge about late diagnosis of autism in teenage girls.  

Then a big opportunity presented itself when the reading specialist at our school retired.  I took the leap, and after 20 years in the classroom, I decided to become an intervention teacher/reading specialist.  At the time, I did not realize how good this move would be for my soul.  As we now began to revisit the earlier struggles of our own child's reading struggles, I discovered my new path, where I feel I am really meant to be....I am now on my way to becoming and advocate for my own children in their journey to discovering their full potential as well as a  certified dyslexia teacher so I can help all kids!