My journey on the front lines of education has given me a deep understanding of what it takes to build a truly thriving school. After earning my degrees in Math and Special Education from UW–Eau Claire in 2009, I began teaching just as Wisconsin’s Act 10 stripped educators of their voice. That pivotal moment ignited my lifelong commitment to education advocacy and deepened my resolve to create environments where both teachers and students can flourish.

For over a decade, I taught through the challenges of the privatization movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. My work focused on building and evolving an alternative education program within a Wisconsin public school, which pushed me to see education through a lens beyond my White, middle-class background. That experience led to a key discovery: the critical role of nervous system regulation in both student development and teacher empowerment.

I believe meaningful change in education comes from trusting and empowering the professionals on the front lines. I work alongside the Wisconsin Education Association Council, have presented at their Professional Development Institute, and contribute to statewide educator resources—all with the goal of fighting for a better future for our children and the educators who serve them.