I bring to my job a wealth of experiences ranging from being a Czech linguist in military intelligence to a face-painting clown at California's Great America amusement park. I was born in Florida and lived there until I graduated high school and moved to the San Francisco area of California. There I began pursuing a liberal arts degree with no particular career goals in mind. I studied drama, foreign languages, and karate, among other things. Six years later I joined the army. After being a soldier and military wife for eight years and then working while my husband earned his teaching degree, I returned to school at Saginaw Valley State University. In 2000 I graduated and was hired at Cass City Middle School as a seventh grade language arts and math teacher. In 2009 I moved to the fifth grade. I Besides teaching my students in the content areas I believe in helping them become better-rounded individuals. I like to expose my students to different ideas and experiences and teach them the benefits of educating themselves as they begin to form their own opinions about topical or controversial subjects. I consider getting to know your children to be the best part of my job.