I specialize in teaching and training in business and financial education, blending real-world business experience with a passion for learning and financial empowerment. My mission is simple: equip others with the knowledge and skills to achieve financial success and lead fulfilling lives. I’m especially drawn to Personal Finance and Career and Technical Education because they allow me to combine professional expertise with a deep commitment to helping students thrive beyond the classroom.

I grew up in the Phoenix area in the 1980s and 90s, spent 15 years in Los Angeles, and had a brief East Coast adventure before settling in Portland in 2015 with my husband and son. When summer arrives, you’ll often find me exploring the world—so far, I’ve visited 12 countries and counting. I’ve been teaching at Grant High School for nearly a decade.

I hold a Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis & Clark College and a B.A. in Sociology from UCLA. I’m licensed and endorsed in Business CTE, Marketing CTE, and Social Studies, bringing both breadth and depth to my teaching approach.

As a former teen parent and first-generation college graduate, I know firsthand the power of transformative teachers. Every day I step into the classroom, I’m grateful for the opportunity not only to teach, but also to learn, connect, and inspire the next generation. My goal is to make a lasting, positive difference in the lives of others.

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett