I have lived in Davidson County since my birth, attending Palmer and Harpeth Valley Elementary Schools. Following my graduation from Bellevue High School, I was employed for ten years as an administrative assistant at American General/National Life and Accident Insurance Company.

After meeting my husband, who had so much faith and offered tremendous encouragement, I enrolled in George Peabody College for Teachers in 1974 and earned a dual major in Elementary and Special Education with certification in Mental Retardation, Behavior Disorders, and Learning Disabilities. After receiving my Bachelor of Science degree in 1977, I was employed by Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools at H.G. Hill Elementary as a Science/Art Teacher.

As a new mother, I opted to spend the next few years at home with our new baby daughter, returning to teaching in 1984 as a first grade teacher at Cockrill Elementary School where I remained for the next five years in that capacity. I also attended Trevecca Nazarene College in 1985 and obtained kindergarten certification and my Master’s degree from Tennessee State University in 1987 in educational administration and supervision.

My first administrative appointment was assistant principal at Lakeview Elementary in 1989. Since that beginning year, I have served as principal at several MNPS sites—Brookmeade, Buena Vista Paideia, and Gra-Mar Elementary/Middle Schools.

I  received the U.S. Department of Education’s National Distinguished Principal Award in 1994 and the Milken Family Foundation and State of Tennessee Department of Education National Educator Award. The National Association of Elementary Principals recognized my contributions to education, and I successfully completed the National Association of Secondary Principals Assessor Training. I also earned Tennessee’s Career Level III Principal professional license and became administratively endorsed in PreK-12. I currently hold a Masters +45 and have finished all coursework towards a doctoral degree in supervision and administration. Most recently, I completed the yearlong professional development program, Principals’ Leadership Academy of Nashville, a collaboration of Nashville Public Education Foundation, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, and Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.

My interests outside education include art/watercolors, gardening, photography, reading, and English hand-smocking. And the absolute highlights of my life are my little three-year grand-daughter and my one-year old grand-son!