Early on…
I grew up on a dairy farm in Hurley, NY, as the youngest of 7 children. As a child and long into adulthood, I didn’t understand or appreciate what was instilled in me when living on a farm. My husband and I decided to raise our three children in a suburban environment, and quickly realized that our children could learn so much from their grandparents in a rural environment. We visited often, helping Grandpa dig for potatoes, bake bread in the outdoor oven, tending the vegetable and flower gardens and baking rolls and cookies, lots of cookies with Grandma. To this day, I look at open green spaces, seeing all their shades, marveling at the color of freshly plowed dirt, and listen intently to a waterfall in a mountainside. I also developed a great appreciation for history and architecture from my parents. The house I grew up in was a stone house built in 1769 and in addition to farming, my father worked as a restoration carpenter to help make ends. He often designed roofing angles or molding patterns on the chalkboard that hung in our kitchen. I love to garden and hike and am especially tuned into the impact of nature. I enjoy problem solving and the challenge of figuring out logistical issues, particularly those where resources appear minimal at first glance. These are all traits instilled in me early on and have proved useful over and over again.
A passion for listening…
Early in my career as an English teacher and Director of English, I became a Syracuse University Project Advance instructor. Attending professional development seminars at SU and partnering with university scholars shaped my “Ways of Seeing” and caused me to think deeply about how lived experiences and personal bias inform how we understand people, choose our social groups, make meaning of what we read, and influence how we make decisions in our personal and professional lives. This realization helped me grow in my role as a school administrator, always pushing myself to seek out the perspectives of all stakeholders and open up space for all students to speak and be heard in the classroom, in our school community and beyond.
And Learning, and Leading…
When two of my children moved on to college, I decided I wanted to pursue my doctorate degree. In 2015 I joined a group of school leaders on Friday nights and Saturdays for over two years and we learned about system leadership, delving into change theory models, school law, data informed decision-making processes, and many other essential topics when transforming schools. When it came time to consider dissertation topics, I decided to study what educators in suburban schools know about diversity, equity, and inclusion and how districts go about professional learning on this topic. My passion for understanding systemic racism and what is needed to ensure equity for all children had been smoldering since my eye-opening work with SUPA years ago, but is now fueled everyday with hope that by listening to each other, inviting people into a conversation about racism, anti-racism and inclusion for all, we will foster a constant review of our systems, engage in frequent conversations with students and families about their experiences and break down long held barriers for students in schools.
Hobbies, Interests and Service
I love to spending time with my family, visiting my children who are now living in 3 different states, and my siblings, also scattered up and down the east coast. I enjoy travelling, always seeking out art galleries, big and small. I love to watch artisans and craftspeople in the midst of a new creation. I often find my way to a hiking trail during our travels. We are working on building a cabin in the woods just outside of Cooperstown, NY and I love the view down the valley from this lovely spot. I enjoy walking, hiking, yoga, reading, golfing and gardening. I spend my free time in my niece’s flower shop, inspired by her love of flowers and creating happiness in a vase for her patrons. Every Thursday I deliver food for those who are food insecure. This is important to me as I count my many blessings and continue to work to provide access and inclusion for everyone.