Greetings, and welcome to my world of literature and composition!   For the past 27 years, I have taught  Language Arts at Napoleon High School:  Advanced Placement Literature, Junior Literature & Composition,  and an occasional sophomore or senior English.  Currently, I live in the Ridgeville area with my husband, Ric and our boxer.  My daughter Megan lives in Monclova with her husband Todd, and their three children: 9 year old Jaden, 6 year old Ellasyn, and 4 year old Toryn.  Megan is a pediatric ICU nurse who is currently a stay at home mother who teaches fitness classes; Todd is an emergency physician at Toledo Hospital ER and Assistant Director of ProMedica for northwest Ohio.  My son Jefferson is an artist/sculptor who recently moved to Ohio from Ithaca, New York.  For two years he designed and built props for Broadway shows, specializing in any objects that move or fly. Then he worked for a furniture designer, creating specialized furniture, and currently, has been doing custom home construction and designing/building custom furniture. Jefferson, along with his wife Jaime and their 5 year old daughter, Adaline, live in their “under construction” house in Colton.

     After I graduated from Archbold High School, I finished three years at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, then was married, moved to Houston, Texas, where I finished my undergraduate degree with a double major in English and history with a minor in religion.  After my husband and I returned to the Archbold area, we were blessed with two children.  When they were in 5th and 7th grades, I began my teaching career after working on the farm and being a stay at home mother.  In 1992, I completed my Masters Degree in English Education.  Other than one semester at Wauseon High School, I have always taught at Napoleon.

      As I’ve told my students, I thoroughly enjoy reading and writing, but I also indulge in biking, hiking, playing the piano, singing, antique shopping, cooking, and, most of all, babysitting my grandchildren.  By nature, I am a shy person due to my overly self-conscious character.  Above all though, I am a highly organized, fastidious person, whom many would consider “anal”.    Even though it is difficult for me to stand in front of a large group of people, I have overcome that fear (mostly) by my determination and perseverance; I set goals and strive to obtain them.  Teaching was a goal I’ve had since high school, and I have worked diligently to attain that goal.

      My goal for all of my students is that they will learn to think critically and write more clearly due to reading literature.  Everything done in my classes is directly related to that goal. . . Welcome to my web site!  I hope you will be challenged to read, write, and think more due to visiting my site!