Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I have always been a lover of learning (and teaching). Growing up, my parents ensured my sister and I were organized, focused, and well-educated; Performing well in school was always a topic of importance in my household. The values that I was raised with have helped shaped and mold me into the hardworking wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and teacher that I am today. Today, I still reside in Baton Rouge. I have been happily married for 8 years (July 14) with a 5 year old daughter (Kelsie) and a 3 year old son (Jeremy "Jay" Jr.). I currently work at McKinley Middle Magnet School for Visual and Performing Arts and have been here for 11 years. I tell everyone, “As long as I’m a classroom teacher, I plan to remain at McKinley Middle.” I love where I work! At McKinley I have also held the position(s) of 8th Grade Team Leader for 4 years and English Content Leader for 5 years. Teaching has allowed me to help instill the importance of education in thousands of students. Daily, I look forward to reaching my students in a way that helps them appreciate learning. I believe everyone should "lead by example." I believe it is important to show students, parents, and those in the surrounding community how and why it’s important to continuously learn and grow in our lives, both educationally and personally.