My career journey, more accurately described as an ongoing adventure in public service, has taken me from the field of corrections to education, driven by a deep commitment to finding the most meaningful ways to serve my community and make a lasting, positive impact. I currently serve as the Director of Student & Community Services in the Medical Lake School District, where I have the privilege of working alongside dedicated colleagues and within a community I deeply value. In this role, I oversee a broad spectrum of student support services, including health services (school nurses), Section 504 plans, special education (PTs, SLPs, OTs, school psychologists, BCBAs, RBTs), and district-wide mental health initiatives.
Before transitioning into education, I spent nearly two decades working in behavioral science, corrections, and social work, with a focus on crisis response, counseling, and behavior management. In addition to my district role, I also serve as an adjunct professor, regularly teaching at institutions such as the University of Washington, Whitworth University, and Gonzaga University.
Within our district, we take a collaborative and comprehensive approach grounded in whole-child and whole-family education. Our work is intentionally focused on early intervention and sustained support for youth and families, with a shared goal of disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline.
