I grew up in Franklin, Tn and have lived in Murfreesboro with my husband, Craig since we were married almost 24 years ago. We have 5 children; Colby, Emily, David, Jack and Daniel, whose ages range from 14-23. I have enjoyed homeschooling for 18 years and look forward to just a few more years with our youngest. Our family connected with RTA in 2015 and it has been my pleasure to give back to this community by serving on the RTA Board. RTA has been such an instrumental part of our family homeschooling. I have enjoyed connecting with each tutor and family, both as a parent and as an administrator. Colossians 3:16-17 is a verse that encourages and challenges me. One of my passions is encouraging children/youth to use the gifts God has given them for His glory. I love the Lord and I love His children and am grateful for the opportunity to serve both.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, I automatically inherited an ear for good music, outstanding food, and loud fun. (Eating crawfish properly is a skill!) My parents raised my brother and I to know the Lord and live that out through whatever gifts and talents He gave us. With my dad being a percussionist and vocally trained, and my mother, an artist who taught painting classes and basket weaving most of my life, I was heavily influenced by the arts. Early on, I began learning piano, dabbled with the violin and viola, and sang in choirs at school and church. We moved to Hobbs, New Mexico during my seventh-grade year and I continued my involvement in all things music. After receiving my Associate of Arts degree at New Mexico Junior College, I moved to Tennessee and attended MTSU. During this time, I got married, had our first child and continued teaching piano lessons out of my home. I have three children of whom I’ve been privileged to homeschool throughout their academic years. I am grateful for this season of life though it is too quickly coming to an end. I joined RTA as the Study Hall tutor in 2022 and man has it been fun! I’m thankful for RTA and how this precious Tutorial has invested in our kids’ lives academically and spiritually. I’m so honored to be a part of the RTA family! “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in work or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:16-17
I grew up in Merrillville, Indiana, just outside of Chicago and graduated from Indiana University. After completing my Bachelor of Science in Marketing at Indiana University, I married my college sweetheart. Despite our families being deeply rooted in Indiana, we embarked on a different journey. My husband's career as a pilot in the Marine Corps took us from Cincinnati to Pensacola, and eventually to southern California. As he transitioned into a new profession, we returned to Indiana before settling in Tennessee.
I first became involved with RTA in the fall of 2009 as a parent, then as a tutor in 2012, and eventually joined the board in 2014. My children are all grown now, but It is evident that I am a strong advocate for the invaluable resources this community provides to homeschoolers in our area. The dedicated group of tutors and leaders at RTA played a crucial role in guiding my daughters through their college journeys. Engaging with our RTA students in the classroom is a true delight. Witnessing their understanding of new mathematical concepts or hearing them express how they have benefited from the study skills we teach is incredibly rewarding. Your children are not only intelligent, but also vibrant and exceptional individuals.
Throughout our somewhat nomadic life, the Lord has showered us with immense love. He blessed us with three remarkable children, each born in a different state, and guided us to discover strong churches, close-knit communities, and lifelong friendships in every place we settled. His grace has allowed us to experience a love we never could have fathomed through our three grandsons, bringing us utter joy.