I am originally from a small rural town in East Central, Minnesota. I graduated from Concordia University St. Paul with my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. My first call was to teach in Dubuque, Iowa, where I taught Kindergarten for three years. My second call is to Immanuel, where I am excited to continue teaching Kindergarten.
When teaching, I keep Proverbs 22:6 close to my heart. "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." This verse embodies my purpose as a Lutheran educator and serves as a reminder to me. Kindergarten is that magical time when students get that first real experience of school. It is my job to help start students off on the right path by instilling in them a love for school. Not only that, I get to do it with Christ at the center of it all, which is pretty amazing!
A little bit about myself, I love all things crafty, creative, and artistic. I am also a huge Disney fan: any of the movies, music, and TV shows! I also enjoy spending time with my family back in MN. I am thankful to be a little closer to home than I was before!
The school's theme this year is In All Things. Share a brief example of a time or a moment when you have felt God IN ALL THINGS?
I have five rules that I teach every student that comes through my classroom, and one of those rules is: Rule #4: Take care of what God has given you in the right order* (*right order: people before things, others before yourself). This rule is usually one of the hardest rules for my students to fully understand right away because, well, they are young kids who are still hard-wired to think about themselves. However, with modeling, explanation, and work, they begin to see the importance of it. I see God IN ALL THINGS when a student transfers this rule to their daily life and applies it to stories we read, uses it with their family and friends, and begins to recognize that God has given us so many wonderful things. I treasure when I hear stories of students who have really taken the meaning of that rule to heart, and my prayer is that it stays with them forever.
Do you like going to the movies or do you prefer to watch at home? What is your favorite movie? Why?
If the movie is a new Disney release or the premier of a big Marvel film, I would rather see it in a theater. It makes the movie feel more special with the surround sound, the big screen, and of course, movie theater popcorn! However, I also don't mind watching movies from the comfort of my couch snuggled up in a big blanket. It is impossible for me to pick one favorite movie, so I will pick a few of my favorite genres of movies. The top of that list would be Disney and Marvel films, followed by romcoms, musicals, and teen dramas. Those are the kinds of movies I have always enjoyed and can remember growing up watching Disney films with my family. The only types of movies I won't watch are horror or thriller movies; there aren't enough pillows and blankets to shield my eyes!
Hometown: Sandstone, MN
Bachelor's Degree: Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Concordia St. Paul, MN
Minors: Lutheran Theology