Email
Middle School Resource, Middle School Literature, and Inclusive Education Coordinator
Phone: 712-737-2274 Ext. 227

Years at OCCS:  Fall of 1999 - present

Education Background: BA in Elementary Education from Dordt College, May 1999;  MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Dordt College, May 2009 (Thesis:  Strategies to Encourage and Support the Middle School Male Reader)

Professional Experience:  From 1999 - 2008 I was the 6th grade homeroom teacher at OCCS teaching a wide variety of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade courses.  I am currently in my fourth year of being the middle school resource room coordinator and the Inclusive Education coordinator.  I also teach middle school literature courses.

Family:  My husband Mike and I have 3 daughters.  Jaci is in 4th grade, Peyton is in 1st grade, and Kinzie is 3.  Mike works as the producation manager at Sioux Pharm in Sioux Center.  We worship at Faith Christian Reformed Church.  As a family, we enjoy being outdoors and love to follow the Iowa Hawkeyes.  

Faith Statement:  Believing that God has called me to be a teacher, I see my job as my way of serving and praising the Lord.  My work at school is one way I can worship the Lord and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, be a part of redeeming the creation for His glory.  I see my students as image bearers of God, each one with special, unique gifts to be discovered and nurtured.  I see each curricular area as a way to point to God’s perfectly designed creation, to show how sin distorts God’s creation, and how we as Christians are called to take care of and restore God’s creation until he comes again to make all things new.  My faith affects my view of my task, my students, and my curriculum, but also spurs me to be a highly visible, positive role model to my students.