I spent my early childhood here in Austin but moved to New Mexico when I was nine. My family returned to Austin when I was in my mid-teens. I studied at the University of Texas at Austin and earned my Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Psychology and my Master of Arts in History from Texas State University.
I started teaching at my old high school (McCallum in Austin) in 2006 at age 21, where I taught and coached for six years, leaving to pursue my master’s in history in 2012. I worked in education outreach for the Texas Archive of the Moving Image and the Texas State Historical Association for two years before going back to teaching full-time in private Christian schools for the last six years. I joined the Hill Country faculty in the fall of 2019. My oldest son is a current Hill Country student, Class of 2034, and my youngest will start preschool here next fall!
What is your favorite sport?
Volleyball, track, and basketball
What is your favorite hobby or one of your favorite things?
Being outside and playing, hiking, and riding bikes with my kids. And playing sand volleyball with my husband and our best friends.
What is your favorite food?
House Dry Wok Beef from Asia Café
Growing up, you hoped to become an…
Olympic runner or marine biologist
Other than the Bible, what’s your all-time favorite book?
Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? by Martin Luther King, Jr.
What is an interesting fact about you?
I was ranked the 10th-fastest miler in the state in high school after I ran a 5:11 mile. I walked on to The University of Texas Cross Country team my freshman year in college.
If you could meet one historical figure or famous person, who would it be and why?
Apart from meeting Jesus of Nazareth our Savior, I’d say Abraham Lincoln, Ida B. Wells, or Alice Paul.
What is your favorite Scripture or quote?
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, and He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Who has had the greatest influence on your life and why?
My mother and husband have had the most influence on my life. They are my best friends and have so much compassion and empathy for others. They are also both hilarious.
What do you believe makes Hill Country distinct, other than the tight-knit community?
Hill Country students are wholesome and great image bearers. I love teaching history to them and sharing my own testimony. I love the lightbulb moment when students build connections to learning new content and feel pride in their efforts. I love to learn about who they are and what matters most to them. It is my calling to teach, and I love teaching in a place bonded by our Savior’s love and grace.
What do you love about teaching at Hill Country?
I love the students and community here. I’ve had so much support from the administrative team and appreciate the stability and kindness of everyone working here.