Greetings! Welcome to my teacher page.

I have been teaching music in Livonia Public Schools since 2011. My very first assignment was teaching elementary music at Rosedale Elementary (Fun fact: My mother went there back when it was called Johnson Elementary; the room I taught music in was once her third-grade classroom!). Since then, I have had the honor of teaching students in every grade level across the district; encompassing a wide variety of music-related disciplines (elementary music, band, orchestra, choir, and musical theater). In 2018, I landed in my current assignment at Franklin High School and Emerson Middle School, teaching band, choir, and general music-- and I couldn't be happier.

Outside of school, I enjoy performing in several musical ensembles. My longest running "gig" has been with the Dodworth Saxhorn Band (based out of Ann Arbor) which is a Civil War-era brass band. With this group, I get to play hand-made instruments that were built between 1860 and 1880-- one of which was played at President Lincoln's 2nd inauguration! Other groups I perform with are the Southeastern Michigan Wind Ensemble (comprised mostly of music teachers--including four other LPS teachers), the Threshold Choir at Angela Hospice, and various chamber ensembles for local churches. 

To me, music is the ultimate community-building medium; I am very passionate about the many social-emotional benefits of music teaching and learning. Music has been an avenue for personal growth throughout my life, and I feel very fortunate that I get to spend my days making music with young people. My goal is not to turn out hundreds of professional musicians, but to use music as a means to develop "grit" in our students, help them recognize their potential, and create beautiful music in the process.