Volunteer, Moderator of Continuing Bonds board, Facilitator - Florida Chapter

I was born in West Palm Beach Florida, a long time ago. I lived most of my childhood in Miami, but returned to the Palm Beach County area as a teen. I met my husband just after graduating from high school. We married five years later in 1985. Two years later we had our first child and only son, Ryan. Two years after that we had another child, our first daughter, Ashlee. We thought our family was complete when eight years later we were surprised with another daughter, Baylee. Having such an age difference between the oldest two and the last one, we went for a fourth child and were blessed on the 4th of July of 2000 with another daughter, Hallee. Hallee died eleven days after birth due to complications resulting from surgery to repair heart defects. Two years later, we were joyfully blessed with yet another daughter, Kylee Faith. My children are now 16, 13, 5 and 6 months. Hallee would be turning three this summer. Though our family is now completed, it is not and never will be intact.

Educational/Professional:  I graduated from the University of Florida in 1984 with a degree in Education and a certification in Mental Handicaps. I continued on to complete thirty hours of post graduate work and earned a certification in Emotional Handicaps. I have taught in Palm Beach County, Florida since 1984. Most of my experience has been in teaching high school students with various learning disabilities as well as mental, physical and emotional handicaps. While my oldest children were young, I taught part time at group homes for women, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) to immigrants and remedial reading and math to employees of Motorola. I have been teaching at my current position (high school special education) for the past ten years. The focus of my job is to teach my students how to be independent and become gainfully employed without the benefits of college. Most of my students are from low socioeconomic backgrounds which adds to the challenges of their disabilities.

Leisure/Recreational:  Growing up in camping families, my husband and I have continued this tradition with our children. We have a small camper, an upgrade from the tent we used for years. I enjoy football games and follow my college alma mater very closely. I enjoy the beach, but can never seem to spend enough time there even though it is only minutes away. I attend the neighborhood church as the pastor there has been a wonderfully supportive for me these past few years. He has recently asked if I will take on the responsibility of creating a liturgical dance program for the services. I do have a background in dance and I am researching the possibility. Though I have many interests. It seems that most of my time is spent chauffeuring my children from one activity to another.