I was born and raised in Florence, Alabama and I am a product of the Florence City Schools system. In 1989, I graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. I began my teaching career that same year in kindergarten at McAdory School in the Jefferson County school system. After 3 years, my husband, Jim, and I made the decision to return to my hometown to work and raise our family. I began teaching 2nd grade at Forest Hills Elementary in 1992 and I remained in this position for 17 years. Eight years ago I left to classroom to become the ARI Reading Coach at Forest Hills. That position has now transformed into Instructional Partner. I am so proud to be a part of Florence City Schools family. WIth this great system, I've had the pleasure of being a student for 12 years and a Coffee High School graduate, being an employee for the past 27 years and being a FCS parent and watching my four children travel through 5 differnent schools in this school system. I have two sons and one daughter who are graduates of Florence High School. My youngest daughter will graduate from FHS in 2021.