I proudly joined the Buffalo Nation in 2015! I teach 7^th and 8^th grade Writing at Puterbaugh Middle School, and I am the Student Council sponsor. 

I have taught at Merrill Middle School for Denver Public Schools, Sheridan Middle School in Sheridan, Colorado, Jefferson County Public Schools in Littleton, Colorado, and Everman High School in Everman, Texas. I did contract work and served extensively as a volunteer on multiple school- and district-level committees for Douglas County Public Schools in Castle Rock, Colorado. I have taught English, English Language Acquisition (for second-language learners), Humanities, Spanish, Balanced Literacy, and US History at the secondary level (grades 6-12). 

I am a proud mama of three: my son, Brooks, is a sailor in the United Sates Navy. He’s a 2020 MHS graduate and guitar-player extraordinaire! My middle daughter, Liz, is embarking on her college journey at Northeastern State University—GO Riverhawks!! My youngest daughter, Allison, is a junio at MHS and leads by her quiet example. 

I am also Mama/Granny to our fur babies: Rosey (our Cane Corso protector), Mazie (our Goldendoodle lovebug), Meredith (our laid-back rescue kitty) and Callie (another rescue kitty. . . yes, we have a Grey’s Anatomy theme going on. . . :o)).

I was born in McAlester and my family is from Clayton, in Pushmataha County. My family moved away from my beloved Oklahoma on my 12^th birthday to “Misery”, where I attended junior high, high school, and college. I lived in Texas for a year after I graduated from college, then moved to Colorado. During my 17 years there, I got married, taught, started a family, taught some more, got divorced, and moved back home!

I LOVE to cook and often share my creations with my students and my Puterbaugh family. I love my church family at The King’s House and am very involved in several ministries there. When I have “free” time, I enjoy reading, gardening, and traveling (eight states to go until I’ve visited all 50!), but my most favorite thing in the world is spending time with my kids, doing things they love!