I am a compassionate, detail-oriented educator and coach with 22 years of teaching and mentorship experience in School District 5, Kalispell, MT. I specialize in teaching advanced science topicsincluding Biology, Introduction to Biotechnology, and Botanywhile simultaneously fostering student-athlete development as a long-time competitive volleyball and fastpitch softball coach. I believe in inquiry-based learning and goal-setting frameworks that give youth the power to be in charge of their own education and growth. By intentionally building strong relationships, I empower my students and teams to confidently use critical thinking, collaborate effectively, and build lifelong character.

["Outside of the classroom","my primary interests lie in youth athletics","community mentorship","and environmental stewardship. I possess a lifelong passion for sports","dedicating over two decades to coaching volleyball and fastpitch softball at the high school","middle school","and club levels. Through these athletic programs","I enjoy mentoring student-athletes","helping them set structured personal benchmarks","and instilling foundational life skills such as accountability","collaboration","and sportsmanship. My commitment to the local sports community also extends to serving as an MHSA volleyball official and supporting local athletic events as a scorekeeper and gateworker. Beyond the athletic field","I am deeply enthusiastic about horticulture and conservation. I have channeled this passion into completing Levels 1 and 2 of the Flathead County Master Gardener Program","which allowed me to dedicate 40 hours of volunteer service providing sound landscaping and pest management advice to community members. Additionally","I enjoy volunteering for local environmental initiatives","which has included assisting in planning the valley's first BioBlitz to record biodiversity and securing grant funding to build sustainable native plant and rain gardens on campus."]