Hello Panthers, I was born in Arlington, Texas and music has been part of my life since I was born! My dad is a retired orchestra director of 32 years and introduced me to the violin at the young age of five.  I continued my music studies through high school, participating in an orchestra as well as playing in various string ensembles.  After graduating from high school, I pursued my music career at Northwestern State University, where I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education.  In 1999, I took my first teaching job in Sugar Land, TX as the assistant orchestra director at First Colony MS and Garcia MS. The following year, I took on the role as a head orchestra director at Sugar Land Middle School and taught there from 2000-2013.  In 2013, my husband's job promoted him into a position moving us to the Dallas metroplex and me teaching orchestra in Plano ISD.  I am now on my 10th year as the head orchestra director at Schimelpfenig MS and love every minute of it!   The Schimelpfenig Orchestra has a long tradition of success, earning multiple Sweepstakes awards at UIL and Best in Class awards at national music competitions.  Some of my personal achievements include being recognized as the TexASTA Marjorie Keller Young Teacher of the Year Award in 2004. I am a proud member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Director’s Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Mu Omicron, and the international music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota. I reside in Plano, TX with my husband of 23 years and 2 sons (ages 18 and 15) who are always on the go and keep me busy!