I am proud to serve as the Principal for New Heights School. I have been with NHS since 1995 and have been involved in the administration of the school since September of 1996. In my nine plus years, I have enjoyed working with students of all ability levels and have come to understand just how diversified learning abilities are among students of a single community. I truly believe that all children can learn, but they do not necessarily learn in the same way. That is why I am so proud to be involved with NHS. New Heights provides families of the Stillwater area with an important option, especially for children who need or want a smaller environment with fewer distractions. NHS has been, and continues to be an excellent educational option that brings balance to the greater Stillwater community. I am very proud and pleased with the recent enthusiasm about our school. This year, we expect to graduate a record class of 25.

Education:

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. I majored in Secondary Education/Broad Field Social Studies. I earned a Master of Education Degree from Saint Mary's University of Winona. My degree is in Teaching and Learning. I completed the Administrative Licensure program through Saint Mary's University-Minneapolis Campus. Upon completion, I was certified through the State of Minnesota as a Licensed School Principal for all grades K-12. I am currently in pursuit of an Educational Specialist Degree, also through Saint Mary's University-Minneapolis.

Teaching Backgroud:

Since 1995, I have taught several subjects at NHS including:

American History

American Civics

Psychology

Criminology

English

Government

I am fortunate to be what some may refer to as a "teaching principal." In most schools, the principal is someone who students view as the authority of the school, or the one who issues disciplinary consequences for bad behavior. Although that role comes with the territory of administration, students at NHS know that I have been teaching at the school since my arrival in 1995. Students also know that as 11th graders, they will be scheduled for the classes I continue to teach which are: Psychology and Criminology. Once students attend my classes, we are able to establish a higher-level relationship than many principals can with their students. Once that relationship is formed, the authoritarian side of the job is much easier to execute. It also allows me to determine a more authentic and appropriate style of discipline to students who are in need of correction, as I will have had a better opportunity to get to know and understand them.

Interests:

In my youth, I enjoyed a variety of team sports such as baseball and basketball. I also became interested in weight lifting and running to stay in shape and to prepare for upcoming sports seasons. I continued to play baseball until I was 30 years old, at which time I decided to hang up the cleats and focus on lifetime fitness and individual sports such as golf and long-distance running. Although my true passion is golf, I became interested in marathon running as a goal and ran in my first Twin Cities Marathon in 1998. I enjoyed it so much that I ran four consecutive TCM's, having finished all of them in under four hours. In 2004, I ran in my first Grandma's Marathon, running from Two Harbors to Duluth. I, like many who run marathons, vowed at the finish line to never run another marathon. But, those who know me best say that they are sure I'll sign up for more agony very soon.