She joined the Department of Elementary Education faculty in 2006 after teaching in elementary and early childhood settings. She completed both her bachelor's degree in elementary education and her master's degree in early childhood education at SFA, and her doctoral degree in education at Capella University, Minneapolis. She currently serves as the program coordinator for the Early Childhood through 6th Grade Teacher Certification Program. She involves her students in research regarding indirect language stimulation techniques for English Language Learners and the impact of mentoring for children from poverty.