I am a retired theatre teacher. Formerly the theatre Director at Westview HS in Beaverton Oregon, home to Thespian Troupe 5350. During my life, I was significantly influenced by my teachers. It was in my 4th grade year at Vegas Verdes Elementary School in Las Vegas, Nevada, that I knew I wanted to become a drama teacher. A wonderful teacher named Alice Geil had a profound influence on me by bringing learning to life in the form of staged plays, puppet shows and marionette plays; it became clear at that early age, that drama was my passion.
Educated at Western Oregon State College, I graduated with a Theater Arts/ Language Arts Degree and a BA in Secondary Education in 1988. In 2015, I completed my Master’s degree at Southern Oregon University earning an MA in Theatre Studies with a focus on Production and Design.
Opening a brand new high school in 1994 allowed me the wonderful and rare opportunity to build a theatre program from the ground up. During my 25-year tenure, the Westview HS Theatre program has established a reputation of excellence. Our program is fortunate to have strong school and community support. My students and I have been very active in the Oregon State Thespian organization. I served on the Oregon Thespian state board for four years before being elected the Oregon Thespian Chapter Director in 2003 where I served an 8-year term. I was awarded the EdTA Hall of Fame award in 2015. I am Past President of the Oregon Theater Arts Association and recipient of the following Oregon honors: The Melba Day Sparks Career Achievement Award, the Rex Rabold Memorial Award, the Rae Mona Reynolds Humanitarian Award and the Beaverton School District Golden Apple Award.
Teaching high school theatre has been my life's work. I loved working with students. I can't think of any job more rewarding than working with young people exploring theatre. Theatre communicates the fact that as many ways as we humans are different, we share common bonds and can connect with everyone on some level, bringing new understanding and compassion to our lives.
I have retired to the Oregon Coast and enjoy my days walking the beach, substituting and helping our with the productions at our very small local high school. I enjoy spending time with my wonderful husband, Jackson. I enjoy traveling, reading, golfing, skiing, music, gardening, BBQing and wine tasting.