As a third grade teacher at Catharine Blaine I enjoy each new school year. Third graders are wonderful, inquisitive, hard working and ready to learn. Go Tigers!

I grew up in Port Townsend where I spent my summers on our fishing boat or in the woods camping. I then moved to Tacoma to attend the University of Puget Sound where I earned my BA in Business and Math, and then a Masters Degree in Teaching. After college I moved to Seattle and got a job teaching at Catharine Blaine, and I never left! I am a Seahawks and Mariners fan, and I enjoy going to games regularly. (My husband worked for the Astros, so they are my 2nd favorite MLB team - hence the jersey in the profile pic.) When I'm not watching sports, I am playing volleyball and softball.

I grew up in the VERY small town of Gold Bar, Washington (if you're in 7th grade Washington state history class you'll hear all about it) and moved to Seattle to attend Seattle Pacific University. I've been in Seattle ever since and have taught middle school at Blaine since 2001. I love teaching middle schoolers and I love teaching ELA and history!

I am privileged to be the American mom to 4 amazing young women (and grandma to three grandkids). My daughters came to the US as refugees from Somalia and Eritrea. When I'm not at school, I enjoy hiking and camping with my husband, working in my garden, reading while sipping a latte, and crafting.

I have been a staff member at Blaine K-8 since 1997. I truly enjoy teaching P.E. and believe in enjoying multiple activities.

Proud graduate of Seattle Public Schools. Bass trombonist and brass doubler in Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra, Harmonia, and Better As Brass. Cat mom to Orion.

My schedule:

• Monday: Leschi & Stevens
• Tuesday: James Baldwin & Adams
• Wednesday: Green Lake
• Thursday: North Beach & Blaine
• Friday: Sand Point & Laurelhurst

Random facts about me:

• I ride unicycle (sometimes while playing an instrument)
• I won a frozen yogurt eating competition
• I love MOD Pizza
• I don’t actually eat much froyo or pizza
• My real favorite food: decaf coffee
• Favorite music: listening to my students after they've practiced something they're excited about!

With a warm and welcoming community of students, parents and staff, Blaine continues to be the right fit for me. I've been teaching middle school here for nearly 20 years! It often feels like my second home. I am an innately curious and enthusiastic individual and hope these characteristics are conveyed through my love of teaching science and understanding the complexities of our fascinating world. I have two wonderful children in Seattle Public Schools and an amazing wife who works at Children's Hospital. We all love preparing and enjoying great food, soccer, books and music of all kinds, anything adventurous and outdoors, and traveling to other cultures and countries.

Hello and welcome to the new school year! I'm so excited for another year teaching math and computer science (a new elective) at Blaine!

My teaching career started in the Auburn School District from 1998-2011. After that I moved to SPS, and it was nice to be working closer to my Ballard home! In the last 20 years I've taught 4th grade, 5th grade, middle school ELA, Geography, Science and Math (my personal favorite). I love teaching 6th and 7th grade math at Blaine! Sports are another love, and besides cheering on my Mariners and Seahawks, my favorite NL baseball teams are the Cubs and Dodgers... maybe that will help you figure out which one in the picture is me!