Biography

Columbia Public Schools are important to me. As a Columbia native, I received my entire K-12 education in the Columbia Public Schools, attending Russell, Smithton, West Junior High and Hickman High School. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Missouri-Columbia where I earned a BES in Music and Elementary Education. While at Mizzou, I assisted in CPS classrooms at Midway, Field, and West Boulevard Elementary.

In April, 2010 I was elected to a one-year term to fill a vacancy on the Columbia School Board and am now running for a full three-year term. During my year on the Board, I participated in the development of the Columbia Public Schools’ Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, served as a member of the Committees on Student Performance and Non-Core Intermediate Education, and am assisting with the comprehensive technology plan as a member of the District Technology Committee. I am also a member of the Long-Range Planning Committee, which has undertaken three major initiatives: building the new high school, upgrading the facilities at Hickman and Rock Bridge, and building an addition to the Administration Building (which will save money on lease costs).

I am active with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, serving on its Committees on Education, Alternative Income, and its Sub-committee on Early Childhood Development. In 2009, I was a member of the Chamber’s Leadership Columbia Class.  Currently, I serve on the City of Columbia’s Internet Citizen’s Advisory Group and was recently chosen to sit on Columbia’s Comprehensive Plan Task Force.

For the past seven years, I have owned Tech 2, a computer and technology consultation and management firm. 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, educating readers about new technology products.  I currently serve as Director of Youth Ministries at Calvary Episcopal Church, and for nine years was director of the children’s choir at First Presbyterian Church.  Before founding Tech 2, I provided higher education marketing services for Apple Computer.