I grew up in southwest Missouri near Springfield. Then college in Arkansas for a couple of years. The United States Army took me away from college for about 7 years where I enjoyed Pensacola, Florida; Ft. Hood, Tx; Augsburg, West Germany (at the time); and Ft. Meade, MD.  After the US Army, I finished my degree in Physical Education at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. Several years of teaching and other jobs brought me to a disability retirement in 2007. Fourteen years later, I was able to begin teaching again, and have greatly enjoyed the experience. I look forward to the upcoming year with a great group of students. I am currently in my third year of teaching in the Northwest Arctic Borough School District.