-
Born Boulevard
I was born on May 30, 1980 in Arlington, MN. My parents took me home to their farm south of Gaylord where I grew up with my two older brothers. This is the same town my mom grew up in. I was beyond blessed to have my Grandma Millie close by. I spent the majority of my childhood with her and am forever indebted to her making my childhood what it should be, happy. -
Hometown Lane
I was raised in Gaylord, MN, a small town in southern Minnesota. Growing up in a tight-knit community greatly impacted who I have become. As I child I always wanted to move to a bigger town. But now as an adult I look back and see the many blessings with how I was raised, such as running and explore on the farm, learning how to interactive with people at the family business, visiting Grandma in town, and safely playing at the park or pool. I want this type of childhood for my kids. -
Main Avenue
Some of my favorite memories are going to work with my parents as a child. My dad owns the Gaylord Feed Mill on Main Ave. My mom also worked there as a secretary. It was a family business and I also worked there as a teenager and a young adult. Before my dad took over the mill, my grandfather was the owner. Now my brother is running it. Over time this has taught me the importance of legacy and that work is something bigger than ourselves. It's something to be enjoyed and a way to give back. -
School Street
I had a very positive educational experience at Gaylord Elementary and Sibley East High School. I made friends that continue to be important support to me today. This experience was a driving force in wanting to teach in a small school as an adult. It feels good to be where everyone knows who you are and who you come from. Then we can all look out for one another. It is a blessing to have had so many people care about me and all the other students that have gone through this school. -
PSEO Detour
I went PSEO my senior year of high school and moved into Gage Towers at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Going PSEO also meant one year tuition free. MSU is where I met great long lasting friends and my husband. I also had two jobs throughout college in Annual Giving and at the Mexican Village. The skills I developed have blessed me since. I learned about customer service, communication, and detail orientation. Also, my MSU boss was the first person that really encouraged me. -
Study Abroad Scenic Route
For the second half of my junior year I participated in a study abroad program in Mazatlan and Guadalajara, Mexico. I majored in Spanish and although my foreign language skills weren't the greatest, my world was broadened. I met the most amazing friends! We traveled all over and simply had fun! It was a care free time and I loved learning about another culture. It also made me appreciative of how I am able to live in Minnesota. Through travel comes compassion, which is helpful in education. -
First Job Junction
After graduating from college with a Spanish major and a Latin American Studies minor I was invited to work with the Title I program at Sibley East Gaylord Elementary. I worked there for one year. A few months into the job the building principal encouraged me to go back to school to get my teaching license. I had never considered this profession before, but really enjoyed it. So I took her advice and returned to school. Her encouragement lead me to want to use my gifts to help others. -
Teaching Position Place
I graduated from MSU, Mankato a second time with a degree in Elementary Education and Middle School Social Studies. My student teaching supervisor helped me to get a 4th grade teaching job in her hometown of Brandon, SD. It was a great community to start my career in and I loved teaching 4th grade! Having my supervisor put so much faith in my teaching really helped to build my confidence. I'm forever grateful. Again, a little encouragement helped me to grow as an adult. -
Reroute to MN
Remember that guy I met back in 1997 at MSU? Well, I moved back to MN to be with him in Janesville. I was lucky enough to get a 4th grade teaching job with Owatonna Public Schools. It was a whole new experience working in a large district. At this time my excitement was high and I thought bigger was better. That was my ego talking. After working here for three years my priorities started to emerge and I realized that I wanted that small town experience again. -
Separation Valley
My mom told our family that she was walking away from 34 years of marriage. This made me question everything from my childhood to my choice to marry. But I also saw my dad's priorities and Adam's strengths. It was very hard to watch my parents go through this, especially to see my mom throw away her values and walk away from the family. She started living for herself only and not others. But the divorce also made me a self-aware reflective person, redirecting some naturally negative habits. -
Roesler Bridge
Adam and I were married on Nov. 29, 2008 in Mankato, MN. To have so many family members and friends celebrate with us was beyond amazing. We were able to soak in the day and focus on the sacrament of our marriage. He is a blessing to me daily. I think God must have been telling me to just be patient for all those years. But I wasn't listening so well. However, things did come together and I'm definitely the lucky one. Adam is naturally a good person who is family focused and a hard worker. -
3rd Street
After commuting to and teaching in Owatonna for 3 years, a position opened up at JWP, which is located in the town where I live. My husband also works at this school and I was fortunate enough to be able to join their team. Becoming a part of a small school and no longer having to spend time on the road reduced my stress, positively impacting those in my life. It also felt great to be a part of the community, much like the experience I had growing up in Gaylord. -
Baby Lane #1
With my job change, the time was right for my husband and I to start our family. We welcomed our first son, August (Gus). I was thrust into motherhood in an overwhelming way. Since I had worked out of town I didn't really have friends in town and my family was not around. I struggled a lot with postpartum depression. However, my faith anchored me and kept me moving forward. I loved baby Gus so much and my struggles really were with being a working mom. This taught me that everything is a season. -
Master's Degree Mountain
I graduated with a Master's of Education degree from St. Mary's University in January of 2015. My cohort was located in St. Clair, where I met some great teachers who shared a passion for education and learning. Through these first years of marriage my husband's family became my family. They helped me with Gus so much and helped to make this accomplishment possible. I learned that is what family looks like, helping one another. -
Baby Lane #2
During my Master's degree journey I miscarried two babies. My teacher showed me so much compassion and flexibility. I'm forever grateful. At my graduation I was pregnant with baby Henrik, who joined our family later that July. I felt like I could finally exhale. This was a journey I never expected and the first time that I truly practiced accepting God's plan. Patience! It is a virtue that I continue to work on developing. -
District Due North
I was enjoying life as a mother of two and teaching my third graders. Then my Superintendent approached me asking if I'd be interested in becoming a Personalized Learning Coach for the district. He wanted to launch a new philosophy throughout our schools and needed a team to help. I discerned the job change and accepted the new role. I had the opportunity to work with PreK - 12th grade teachers and to work on a team to systemically change JWP's educational practices. -
Principal License Point
I was so excited to be apart of the Personalized Learning Development Team. Soon after taking on this role my Superintendent recommended that I further my education through Bethel. It seemed like a crazy time since I had just started this new position, was expecting another baby, and to our surprise he had a cleft lip and palate. But after a lot of prayer I was hearing that it was the right direction for me in order to best use my gifts for others. -
Rochester Route
We became very familiar with the drive to Rochester. Luckily we only live an hour away from Mayo. Our family and friends were incredibly supportive to us throughout this time. My boss and the school district were also more than accommodating. They are always showing me that family comes first and I constantly try to repay them through quality work and dedication. Our baby boy was in the best hands at Mayo! We were so blessed to have access to this medical care before and after his birth. -
Baby Lane #3
Edison was born in Rochester in April during a snow storm. My brother-in-law came got our other boys and told us to head that way. The weather was terrible, white-out! We stayed in a hotel for two days before. I was induced and had a quick and pleasant labor. Baby Eddie was perfect! God provided me with the grace to be calm and to focus on "just doing the next right thing." Feeding was a challenge at first, but through amazing support we were able to establish bottle feedings with breastmilk. -
Orthodontics Oasis
This past July we made weekly trips to Rochester to see the Orthodontics team. Baby Edison had a NAM appliance that worked like an invisaline to move his gums so they lined up correctly. He also had a nose piece that helped form his nostril and we taped his cleft lip to prep it for surgery. On July 12 he had his lip repair surgery. I learned my love for baby Eddie had nothing to do with how he looked, we were blessed with an amazing surgeon, and patience is worth the rewards. -
Return to Work Roundabout
I started back at work part time this summer. I did a lot of work from home and went to meetings as necessary. Luckily we live across the street from where we work. Now I'm back full time. It's always hard to leave my babies at daycare, but especially this time with the extra care I give to baby Eddie. We are blessed with a wonderful daycare provider. With this being my second year as a PL Coach I also know that a benefit of not having a classroom is more energy for my own children. -
Destination Vision 2020
By May 2020 our team hopes to be fully emerged into Personalized Learning. I'm hoping that the systemic changes that we are working on now will positively filter into the classrooms and that we will have developed a culture of serving others. This will be a goal of seeing our efforts come to fruition. -
Brazilian Adventure
My dad is from Brazil and growing up we visited there often. This is also where my husband and I got engaged. I haven't returned since my parents divorced. My mom moved there and I hadn't wanted to face that. Now that I have three boys I want to share that part of our family with them and have them build relationships with all of our family who still live there. -
Marriage Monument
My husband and I have been married for nearly 10 years. Throughout this time I'm learning that marriage is less about love and more about commitment. Commitment to the same morals, values, goals, and friendship. We are in this together and I want to set a great example for our boys all throughout their lives. -
Family First Street
I want to live my entire life by putting my family first, making them proud of who their mom is and always being there for them. If I can accomplish this then I will have lived a successful life.
