I was born and raised in Michigan. I was a competitive figure skater for ten years and also coached for two years. I graduated from Michigan State University in 1988 with a BA in Education. I moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1989 to take a teaching position with Weslaco ISD. I received my Masters in Reading from U.T. Pan American in 1997 and became a full-time faculty member of STCC in 2000. I teach ballet at Deborah Case Dance Academy and am performer with the Rio Grande Valley Ballet I am married to a valley native and we are the proud parents of four dogs, two cats, and a mouse.