2. Welcome to the world of Kansas. I grew up in Clay Center, Kansas, a rural town of 5,500 nestled within the Flint Hills. (Double click black box to get a glimpse of my Kansas family hiking through the Flint Hills on an Autumn day.)

6. I grew up in Clay Center, Kansas; a rural town with 5,500 people and a multitude of grain elevators. Mr. Griffis, my art teacher, inspired me to become a teacher.

15.  I earned a BS in Art and English education from Kansas State University in 1984. During college in Manhattan, Kansas, I volunteered to teach art to disabled adult students within a community night program. In 1984, I moved to Kansas City where I taught Art and English in the MItech program at Shawnee Mission East High School, and I taught art at an elementary school in the same district. In 1985, I moved to Dallas, Texas where I was hired by a staffing organization. Here, I recruited and trained employees, and managed client relations. In Dallas, I completed a real-estate course and began an MBA at the University of Texas, Dallas. In 1987, I was promoted to the National Quality and Training Service Manger position where I developed and conducted national training programs. I was recruited by another staffing organization in 1990 where I managed East coast operations; created, developed and directed training programs; and integrated corporate programs for new company acquisitions. I was also part of a team that sold and managed large, on-site, staffing solutions for fortune 500 corporations. In 1993, I was hired by The Coca-Cola Company where I managed staffing acquisitions for various departments and managed global talent acquisition projects. My position also included training hiring teams in talent acquisition practices. After I had children, I created and sold my own staffing firm, volunteered at my children's schools and substitute taught for the Cobb County School District. While substituting, I worked with middle and high school students, teaching all subjects, including In School Suspension (ISS). I have also taught eighth grade Sunday school for Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. In 2012, I entered the Masters of Education program at Kennesaw State University where I have taken ENGL 7701, ENGL 7711, PRWR 6300, EDUC 7705. I am currently enrolled in PRWR 6500, Teaching High School and College Writing, and ENGL 7702.