Panther Tracks

Tell us about your family.

I have been married for 17 years to my husband, Mike. We have 3 boys: Levi (12), Jameson (8), and Andrew (6). Our boys keep us very busy with all their energy and activities! We moved to Crystal Lake from Iowa 7 years ago, although I grew up in Barrington so it was like coming back home for me 😊

What is something that makes you really proud?

My family- I feel really proud when I see my boys go out of their way to show kindness and care for others. I tell them it makes my “mommy heart” smile!

What is your favorite hobby?

I love to read, as well as travel & explore new places! I get to do a lot more reading than traveling though. I especially love to read thrillers; one of my favorite authors is John Grisham. A couple of my favorite places I have traveled to are Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and NYC.

What is your favorite food? I enjoy lots of different kinds of foods, but one thing I always love is tacos!

What is something you have learned lately?

I am always learning new things, especially from my boys and their many interests. I never knew all the intricacies of Minecraft until my 6-year-old became obsessed with it after the movie came out!

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

A giraffe or an elephant. I think giraffes are beautiful animals with their long necks and patterns, and I love how empathetic and relational elephants are.

What is your favorite thing about PG?

I have been part of several school communities throughout my career, and nothing really compares to the PG community. The students are amazing, the staff is like a big family, and PG families are so supportive. I feel fortunate to be part of PG!

Tell us about your family.

My wife and I got married in September 2024, and we just celebrated our first wedding anniversary. We have a four year old Labradoodle named Millie. Millie has an very strong nose and is always sniffing out new ways to get into something. I am also proud of my two nieces and nephews, their ages range from 9 months old to 9 years old.

What is something that makes you really proud?
I am proud of my students when they can connect to content in their own way. Nothing brings me more joy than when students mention to me that they went home and did more research on a topic or saw something we learned about outside the classroom.

What is your favorite hobby?
I enjoy watching TV and movies. I always have a TV show to watch. I am currently rewatching Parks and Recreation. I also love learning new things, and I enjoy taking walks and listening to podcasts on different topics.

What is your favorite food?
My go to favorite food would have to be steak or shawarma.

What is something you have learned lately?
Not necessarily something I learned lately, but one of my favorite facts is that the 10th president, John Tyler, was born in 1790, and he had grandchildren living in the 2020s. Tyler had a child in 1853 named Lyon Tyler, who had a child in 1928. That child recently died in 2025.

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

An Otter because they are always having fun and trying new things, and no one is upset when they see an Otter.

What is your favorite thing about PG?

The support community at PG is amazing. I can always count on my coworkers to be there for me in any situation. We are a close teacher community, which I am so proud to be a part of.