About Me

I have been working with families and young children for more than a decade, starting as an early childhood educator and eventually working in a non-profit setting, teaching parenting classes and doing home visiting to support parents with young children. I have a passion for supporting the adults who do the important and challenging work of caring for the next generation of our community. 

I work with parents and caregivers of young children to empower them with the knowledge and skills to support their children’s development and build a solid foundation for their life-long mental health. I work with educators and childcare providers to support them in incorporating mental health and trauma informed practices. My approach is centered around the knowledge that families and caregivers are the experts on their children, and my role is to support them in ways that align with their familial and cultural values. 

All of my work with children and their caregivers is based on principles of Early Childhood Education as well as Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. I center secure attachment and healthy development when suggesting evidence-based practices that have been shown to promote development, learning, and relationships. My approach is individualized to fit each family. I have learned through many years of experience that there truly is no one right way, and there are many paths to raising a happy, healthy, well-adjusted child.

I received an AAS in Early Childhood Education from Kirkwood Community College, and BS in Early Childhood Education and BA in Spanish from St. Cloud State University, and an MA in Child Development with a specialization in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health from the University of Minnesota. I am a Circle of Security Parenting facilitator and an endorsed Early Childhood Family Specialist. In 2026, I will be starting my PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development.