“I am a pastor’s grandchild who grew up in Pittsburgh, PA.  I received my AA at Concordia Lutheran Junior College in Ann Arbor, MI, and my BA with emphasis in Lutheran education and music at Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL.  I earned my MS in Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Memphis while I was ILS’s Principal from 1996-2005.

My first teaching position was five years at Zion Lutheran School in Beecher, IL, where I met my husband. After a four-year hiatus while our children were born, I taught two years at the local public school in Grant Park, IL.  Then came our move to Memphis.

I have served at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School since 1986: six years as 2nd grade teacher, four years as 5th grade teacher, nine years as Principal, twelve years as 8th grade teacher, and six years as 4th grade teacher. In addition, I have taught classroom Music, Computer, and/or Algebra I as needed.  Though I retired from full-time teaching in May 2023, I continue to help plan worship services and play organ for church as well as substitute teach in the school.  However, I have now been asked to serve as Interim Principal while Immanuel seeks the next person God has in mind to lead Immanuel’s school ministry.

My husband, Rick, recently retired as Director of Horticulture at Memphis Botanic Garden.  Our daughter Lara, a 1999 alumna of ILS, is a math professor at Valparaiso University in Indiana.  Our son Ryan, a 2002 alumnus of ILS, is Immanuel’s Facilities and IT Director.

Among many favorite Bible verses, I often reflect on my confirmation verse from Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”