Teaching:
School: Sandwich High School
Position: School Counselor
Number of years as a counselor: 14
Farm Bureau/Ag Literacy connection: I got involved with the Kane County Farm Bureau as a school counselor to learn more about agriculture-related careers. Then I found a way to connect with DeKalb County Farm Bureau so I could bring agriculture to Sandwich High School. I have since participated in the Summer Ag Institute and I am the Ag Ambassador for Sandwich High School.
What do you enjoy most about working in schools? I definitely enjoy the students and trying to connect them to post-secondary opportunities.
What is something unique that you do as a counselor? I use a “What’s in Your Cart?” approach to helping students find their best fit for life after high school. To achieve this goal I recruit business and college partners to come to Sandwich High School to expose all students to ALL opportunities for life after high school.
Why is it important for students to learn about food and farming? I think it’s important to know where our food comes from so we can understand the work it takes to get food from farm to table. Additionally, it’s important to understand how complex the regulations are that govern the farming industry.
Words of advice to graduates? Be brave, be strong, be you. Hard work pays off. Surround yourself with positive people.
Personal:
Hometown: Gasport, New York
Family: My daughter Marie is a Wildlife Biologist for the University of Portland in Oregon. The rest of my immediate family is spread out over the United States.
College/Degree(s): Central University of Iowa, Bachelor of Arts; National Lewis University, Masters of Science in Human Services/Counseling; and I am currently a Welding Technology/ Machine Tool Technology student at Waubonsee Community College.
What did you want to be when you grew up? A ballerina, fashion designer, baker, interpreter, and school counselor
Favorites:
Quote: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
Hobbies: Metal working, gardening, cooking
Music: Adele, Linkin Park, Muse, Nathanial Rateliff, Night Sweats
Sports team: Buffalo Sabres
Movies: “Waking Ned Devine,” “Invictus,” “Elf”
Travel destination: Anywhere my family is!