I grew up in Tempe Arizona. Got a Bachelors Degree from Brigham Young University in Educational Psychology (Special Ed Teacher) and a minor in Spanish and Music.
Three times during my undergraduate degree I paused my formal education to do a study abroad to Chihuahua, Mexico, I also served an 18 month mission for my church to Nashville, Tennessee where I grew to love the Southern Culture and people! My 3rd expedition during my degree was to Washington D.C. where I did my student teaching at Martin Luther King Elementary-it was an “inner city” teaching experience, very rich with challenges and a deep love for those kids and what they go through each and every day. This was a very sobering experience.
After graduation BYU I moved to California and taught Special Ed. for a year. I realized this wasn’t my true calling and wanted to be a music teacher. I headed back to Arizona, met my husband and we went to the University of Arizona in Tucson for 5 years where I got a graduate degree in Music Education and my husband Tom got an MFA in Graphic Design. We moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2005 with two baby girls in tow and one on the way. For the last 20 years we have lived in Fayetteville, raised our four girls.
I have been teaching at Root Elementary for 13 years as a music teacher. I love this job, but 3 years ago I realized my kids were all going to be growing up and leaving the nest and I needed another challenge and more growth in my life. Thus, here I am at Collier and Associates!
I love this side hustle, but would love to make this a full time gig soon. I’m taking it one day at a time and know that when it’s right for me to leave teaching I will 100% know.
Thanks for being such a wonderful brokerage! I’m sorry I have missed so many meetings, but I’ve been helping clients during the meetings. Thank you!