•             me beach
                Welcome! First, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. I am originally from central Pennsylvania, where I grew up, went to college and obtained my B.S. in Biochemistry from Lehigh University, a small private school north of Philadelphia. After working in industry for a year, I moved to Salt Lake City, UT. For the next two years, I did HIV research for the Biochemistry Department at the University of Utah, while working toward my Master's degree in Education. After completing my training, I taught 7th-9th grade science, including honors biology, for 5 years in Utah's public school system. Fourteen years ago, I moved to Portland with my husband, Ryan, and our two dogs. Since then, we have added our daughter, Elena (age 11), a son, Porter (age 7), and an Aussie Shepherd, Milo (age 2), to the mix. 
                We are an active family and love taking advantage of the endless outdoor opportunities that Oregon offers, especially paddleboarding, camping and biking when the weather is warm and cross country skiing when there is snow. I also run and do yoga regularly for peace of mind.
                 In the fourteen years since moving to Oregon, I have taught chemistry and biology in three different districts: this one, Gresham-Barlow and Beaverton. I actually taught biology here at West Linn thirteen years ago on a one-year, temporary contract, then taught at Southridge High in Beaverton for two years before returning to WLHS in 2012. This year I am teaching four sections of biology and one section of chemistry.
                Because I worked as a scientist for several years, I have seen first hand how science is applied to solve real life problems and feel that this is a strength I bring into my classroom. I strive to not only help students learn the "what" of scientific concepts, but also the "why" and "how". Within the context of science, I also place a strong focus on developing essential life skills like reading, writing, organization, and working with others. I encourage students to explore, observe, question and hypothesize about their world as we engage in a fun and exciting year of learning!