Working with children has always been my joy. In high school I worked in afterschool care, volunteered at church, and spent summers as a day camp counselor. After graduating with a B.F.A. in interior design from the University of Central Oklahoma, a talk with a good friend led me to think about what I would do if I could do anything. I discovered I wanted to teach. I went back to UCO, where I earned a master’s in early childhood education, then taught English in South Korea, and finished my student teaching early to accept a kindergarten position at an inner-city school. I spent three years in mainstream education before Montessori crossed my path. Montessori came into my life in 2017 when I co-taught in an early childhood classroom and taught yoga to kindergartners. The materials, environment, and uninterrupted work period were fascinating, and I learned that respect is elemental to every aspect of the Montessori pedagogy. I earned my Montessori Early Childhood teaching credential at Oklahoma City University. Marriage and a sense of adventure brought me to Colorado. I love gardening, yoga, skiing, camping, hiking, and relaxing. Watching and coaxing my plants to grow and bloom gives me great pleasure. Practicing yoga stretches and strengthens my body, mind, and spirit. There is no doubt that each of my passions is incorporated into and influenced by my teaching.