She has served in such leadership roles as president of the Nevada State Science Teachers Association and as a presenter and facilitator for workshops with a technology focus. Her innovative teaching style seeks to serve all children and has been recognized by several awards, including Master Teacher of the Year from the National Teacher Training Institute, Nevada Teacher of the Year, the state and national Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching, and the national Teaching Excellence Award from the Horace-Mann and National Education Association Foundation for Improving Education. She is a member of the National Research Council’s Teacher Advisory Council. She has a B.S. in biology from Humboldt State University and is working toward an M.S. in science education.