Principal

Senior Administrative Secretary

Born and raised in the GREAT STATE OF MICHIGAN, but have lived in North Carolina much longer (long enough to forget how cold winter can be up north).

This is my 31st year in education but my 1st at Merancas as a member of the Pack!  As you can see, I’ve been an educator for a long time, it’s "the thing" I am meant to do. I am National Board Certified in Science. I am very active in science outreach. I am most active as a member of the Army Educational Outreach Program through UNCC. Our program travels to different parts of North Carolina to engage students in science research. We currently have an eastern cohort and a western cohort and I am personally responsible for designing Saturday academy programs. My work with BioInteractive is really important to me. I serve as an ambassador for BioInteractive, meaning I was recruited to serve as a leader within the science education community and help to educate educators on their curriculum materials as well as help in the development of curriculum. I currently serve as regional director for the Charlotte Metro region as well as co-director for the North Carolina Student Academy of Sciences.

I have attended more live concerts in my lifetime than I care to count, love going to festivals and would rather listen to music than watch TV. I am a big Carolina Panthers and Detroit Red Wings fan but support the Carolina Hurricanes and will never give up on the Detroit Lions. 

I also love “light” hiking around the trails in NC (especially the Carolina Thread Trail) and enjoying the scenery and peacefulness of nature. Lastly, I enjoy thrifting and antiquing to repurpose things as well as crafting. Believe it or not, I am a bit of an introvert until I feel comfortable in my surroundings.

As the school counselor, I serve as a holistic advocate for my students in their academic, social/emotional and career ventures while promoting academic excellence.  I enjoy the work associated with helping my students reach their full potential as well as witnessing them set and accomplish their goals/dreams as they matriculate through our program. 

This is my 20th year in education and my 6th year as a counselor at Merancas!  I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Counseling & Educational Development. (Go Spartans !!!)

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling through this beautiful and exciting world!  I look forward to working with you this year as we navigate life and academics at the middle college.

Words of Wisdom:  Enjoy this time of your life’s journey.  Visit colleges early.  Lean on OUR PACK when necessary and most importantly, STAY POSITIVE! 

I moved to Charlotte in 2007 to attend UNC Charlotte where I received my bachelor’s in English. In 2011, I continued to work on my graduate certificate and master’s degree in Education, which I received in 2013. After grad school, I went on to teach middle school English. While teaching middle school, I earned my National Board Certification in English/Language Arts for Young Adults. In May of 2022, I earned a graduate certificate in teaching Academically and Intellectually Gifted Children. 

For six years, I have worked with the Charlotte Teachers Institute, in which I have had the opportunity to gain ongoing professional development by participating in various seminars with University Professors. In conjunction with the seminars, I have five different online publications, showcasing my curriculum development.

This is my tenth year teaching and my sixth year at Merancas Middle College! I have taught Honors English IV and AP Literature and Composition for the past six years. In addition to both English classes, I teach Honors Leadership and Learning, which allows student leaders to showcase their hard work and participate in various service activities. I am also the advisor for the Merancas Chapters of the National Student Council and  the Black Student Union.

For me, being an educator is something you truly have to love to do. One thing I learned about myself is that with all of the daily thorns comes magical moments that go beyond description. Being able to help students to truly learn and love the things that I know can help them grow intellectually, brings me so much joy.

Always a Buckeye from the great state of Ohio, but I’ve lived in Charlotte, NC for almost a decade now. When people reference Carolina blue skies, I laugh in agreement because North Carolina really does have beautiful weather, which is just another reason to love it here! My life journey in Charlotte has taken me through several chapters already: teaching middle school students to transitioning to teaching high school students at Merancas, marriage, a beautiful daughter, a baby boy, and recently, being able to move into a new home. I love the roots I’m planting here and I’m excited for what the future holds. 

I’ve taught English III and AP Lang for 6 years at Merancas Middle College. Additionally, I am the advisor of the Legacy Yearbook Club, Greenhouse 3, and the Muslim Student Association. I love the inclusive, family-like environment at Merancas. Our campus and atmosphere supports the idea that when you join the MMCHS family, you’re joining The Pack. Welcome!

I am from the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.  I moved to Charlotte to attend UNC Charlotte where I received a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education (K-6), and a concentration in English.  I have my National Board Certification in Middle School Social Studies.  I am a mom to two awesome boys and enjoying the crazy adventures they bring.  I am an educator because it is a wonderful experience that challenges me with a new lesson each day. No day is the same as the one before, but each day will always start refreshed and full of new learning opportunities.

I have been a proud Pack member for 4 years serving as the Instructional Accountability Facilitator. At Merancas, I can support you with Technology, State testing, ACT & College Board testing accommodations, CPCC CTE course support, Career exploration, MYEP, and National Honor Society. My door is always open and I look forward to a great school year.

I'm a native of Kings Mountain, NC, so I'm all about the 704! I did leave the area for a while to attend the GREAT NC State University and spent time teaching in Raleigh. Still, I returned home to settle near my family once I had my son because family is one of the most important aspects of my life, and I wanted my son to have that too. I love MATH, and I spend much of my free time investigating mathematical concepts in the real world. I'm not only a math geek, though! I also enjoy reading, acting, singing, and watching trash tv; no judgment, please! My son, Davin, who is 12, is my world and brings me joy daily; he's hugely talented and writes and records music, so we spend a lot of time doing that together. Check him out on all platforms - DJ Rap$ Rainy Fridayz. I also enjoy road trips and hiking, specifically Crowder's Mountain, because it reminds me of my childhood.     

This year is my 14th year as an educator, nine years in CMS, and the past 3 with the pack! I love being a part of the Merancas Family, and I advise Mu Alpha Theta, the national math honor society, and the Hispanic/Latinx Student Association. I currently teach Math 3, AP Calculus, and Precalculus, but I've taught every math a high schooler can take. I've worked with the county to develop a curriculum for math 1, and I am currently working on curriculum development for math 3. I've also taught summer professional development courses for secondary teachers, including Building Student Relationships, Student Ownership, Mastery Learning, and even how to utilize Canvas, our learning management system. I also served as a Change Agent for the CMS Personalized Digital Learning Department, working to coach teachers interested in using personalized learning in their classrooms.  

Teaching is undoubtedly my passion and purpose; I learned that while I attended NCSU as an engineering major, I changed my major, and I haven't looked back since! All students can learn math by making connections and having a growth mindset - my daily goal is to do everything I can to help make that happen. All I need is for you to meet me halfway... and LET ME SEE YOU SOAR!