This school year will be my 21st year as an educator. Every day I am thankful that I followed my heart onto this career path. I graduated from Mansfield High School before attending the University of Texas at Arlington where I majored in Communications (Journalism) and earned a minor in mathematics.  I taught in Arlington ISD before relocating with my family to Abilene in 2008.  We have grown to love living in Abilene and love the people who live here. I view participation in the journalism programs as one of the most valuable experiences in which a student can engage. Yearbook is an entirely student-run publication where staffers learn real life skills including advertising sales, business plans, large-project planning, graphic design trends and design software, photography, marketing, interview skills, journalistic writing, and so much more. I tell my students regularly “This is your publication. I am here to help you make it happen.” Newspaper students, also an entirely student-run class, learn an equal number of skills as they master the ability to conduct interviews, manage their time and meet deadlines and report on events in an objective, non-biased way.