About Me

I was born and raised in Franklin County, graduating from Louisburg High School in 1986. I graduated from Peace College in 1988 with an Associates of Arts degree and earned my first BA in Media Studies and Commercial Art from Appalachian State University in 1990. I earned a second BA in Art Education and Studio Art from Meredith College in 2004.

In 2006, after a 15 year career with the print news media, I began a new career as an art educator with Franklin County Schools. I have been a fierce advocate for keeping the arts in our schools so this was an opportunity for me to “walk the walk”. For the past 10 years I have been an art educator with Franklin Academy Charter School in Wake Forest. 

My commitment to fighting to keep the arts in our schools led to me becoming a voice for education across our state. Over the last decade, I have spent a lot of time at the North Carolina State Legislature meeting with state leaders advocating for teacher salaries, working conditions, funding, student’s rights just to name a few. 

I have been an outspoken advocate for Franklin County Schools by fighting back when cuts to local funding were being discussed by our commissioners. I have advocated for Leandro funding at the state level when our state leaders refused to follow court orders and release the Leandro funds that would benefit our school system by $22 million. 

In 2022, I started an education blog, Academic Palette to keep the people of Franklin County informed on what’s going on in education, why it matters and why they should care. 

If elected to serve on the Franklin County Board of Education, I will bring my experience, a fresh perspective, and common sense solutions to the table.