How long have you been at Bullis?
Since 2019
What role or roles do you play at Bullis? If you are teaching faculty, what do you teach?
Director of Lower School Admission
What made you decide to work in an educational setting?
I have always enjoyed working in schools, both teaching and as an administrator. I love getting to know the students and seeing them mature and grow. Schools also provide the best colleagues - interesting, thoughtful people that support one another.
What is your favorite thing about working at Bullis?
The faculty at Bullis are one of the most welcoming and positive groups I have ever worked with and I appreciate the support they provide to one another and to our students. They are genuinely passionate about the world, the subjects they teach, and social engagement.
When not at Bullis, what interests do you pursue?
I enjoy reading, traveling, running, hiking, playing board games, baking, sewing, and going on roadtrips. I also like taking photos and crafting.
Who is someone that inspires you and how?
My mom was widowed twice by the age of 37 to two unforeseeable tragedies. Instead of falling into despair, she devoted herself to independently raising my brother, sister, and me. She has always been involved in the community by helping establish an active Parents Without Partners chapter in our hometown, volunteering in our schools and our church, and helping those in need. While she had every reason to feel angry with the world, instead she stayed a positive, friendly person and a good friend and supportive parent and grandparent. I admire that she didn't let misfortune define her, but led the life she wanted in spite of devastating loss.
What is the best book or production that you have read, watched, or listened to lately?
I was recently invited to Save the Children's virtual screening of Paper Children (Niños de Papel): Inside America’s Overwhelmed Asylum System, a documentary about a family that seeks asylum after entering the United States from Honduras. The film really captures the desperation and uncertainty felt by the family members, and shares the sad realities of the pitfalls of our immigration process and the stresses it places on those waiting for asylum. The director shared even more details about the lack of consistency in court judgements and the subjective factors that lead to unfair and unjust decisions. The documentary reminded me of a book I read several years ago: Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in 40 Questions by Valeria Luiselli which also focuses on child immigration and the inhuman treatment minors often face after crossing the border. Both were powerful works and helped better inform me about issues that are very real in this country and that I need to consider when casting my vote in elections.
What global challenge would you like to see tackled and how do you see yourself contributing to the positive change that you desire?
I passionately feel that we need stricter gun control in this country. I am not against the second amendment, but I do believe we need a safer, more controlled system to regulate the purchase of firearms. If we had stricter gun laws, we would have many less fatalities in this country. I have written letters to elected officials, marched in protests, and I support organizations that lobby for gun reform.
What is one fun fact about you that others may not know or may surprise them?
I talked my entire family into driving across the country so we could run the World's Largest Corn Maze 5K in Illinois this past fall - masked and socially distanced, of course :-).
Why would you tell a prospective family to choose Bullis?
My daughter came to Bullis before I did and I joined the faculty here because of the amazing experience she has had at Bullis. Her teachers really know her and support her; she is academically challenged but also able to be involved with sports and theater; and the education is very experiential, which she loves. If you want a balanced education for your child, where they enjoy learning and are encouraged to explore their passions both in and out of the classroom, then you can't make a better choice than Bullis.
- Faculty
- Parent
