I am a native Arizonan and a product of Mesa Public Schools.  After attending MacArthur Elementary, Kino Junior High, and Mountain View High School, I enrolled at Arizona State University where I graduated summa cum laude with degrees in both elementary education and psychology.  A few years later, I earned an endorsement in gifted education at Ottowa University followed closely by completing a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (with an emphasis in English as a Second Language) at Arizona State University's Polytechnic Campus.  I continue to look for opportunities to further my learning.  

Before coming a Director, I have taught both 6th grade (eight years) and elementary Gifted and Talented resource (five years) at MacArthur Elementary School and Johnson Elementary (two years). I also taught an introduction to engineering course at Carson Junior High (one year). I was also the elementary Gifted Curriculum specialist.

In 2011, I was awarded Arizona FLL Young Adult Mentor of the Year award for my work with coaching robotics teams and teaching aspiring coaches.  In 2012, I was awarded Arizona Science Teachers' Association's (ASTA) Elementary Science Teacher of the Year. In 2016, I was a national winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Outside of the classroom, I work with both students and adults to develop engineering and problem solving skills through robotics. I have been in involved in FIRST LEGO League (FLL), VEX Robotics Competition, and VEXIQ Robotics Competition. I lead workshops on engineering design and robotic programming for both teachers and rookie FLL coaches.  In the past, I have worked with Intel to teach their employees how to mentor elementary and junior high age students. I have also taught engineering summer camps through Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering that range in topics from alternate energy, rocketry, robotics, space exploration, and  mechanical engineering.