Biography

School is a place where lifelong attitudes about learning are formed.  I am a Columbia native who received my entire K-12 education in the Columbia Public Schools.  I believe our schools introduce its students to an ongoing curiosity about the world, an understanding that each new learning project is an adventure, and a clear sense of the importance of teamwork and fair play in and out of the classroom. I attended Russell, Smithton, West Junior High and graduated from Hickman High School in 2001.  I then went on to higher education in Columbia, attending the University of Missouri-Columbia where I earned a BES in Music and Elementary Education. While at Mizzou, I received first-hand experience working in the classrooms of Columbia Public Schools, including Midway, Field and West Blvd. Elementary Schools.  I quickly realized that students were excited about what they were learning and found it most rewarding to be in a room full of eager learners.

My goal as a member of our School Board is to see every classroom in our district, full of eager learners. I have already taken steps toward this mission, by serving on the Chamber of Commerce committees on Education and Alternative Income, and the Early Childhood Development Subcommittee.  I participated in the development of the Columbia Public Schools Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, as a member of the Student Performance Committee. I was a member of The Chamber’s 2009 Leadership Columbia Class.  Currently, I serve on the City of Columbia’s Internet Citizen’s Advisory Group. Most recently, I was chosen to sit on the City of Columbia’s Comprehensive Plan Task Force.

For the past 7 years, I have owned Tech 2, a computer and technology consultation and management firm.  But I still find myself gravitating toward the teaching aspects of my work, whether that’s training client staff to use the new systems my company has implemented or educating decision-makers about their technology options. In addition to my work at Tech 2, I teach technology-related classes at the Columbia Area Career Center.  I also write a regular technology column for the Columbia Business Times to educate readers about new technology products.  I currently serve as Director of Youth Ministries at Calvary Episcopal Church, and for nine years, I was director of the children’s choir at First Presbyterian Church.  Before founding Tech 2, I provided higher education marketing services for Apple Computers Inc.

In my work life, I spend a great deal of time assessing challenges ranging from physical network expansion and interoperability considerations, to the management of technology budgets and advising clients with long-term financial planning for their businesses’ technology upgrades.  In my personal life, I work to encourage young people to value their education and for adults to continue theirs.