I am a life-long learner and professional educator. I have worked in higher education for over two decades; I have also taught courses in an adolescent girls' group home, a men's state penitentiary, and local libraries. I obtained my doctorate and masters degrees in English. I also have an emphasis in women's studies which is how I started working with mothers and families. My husband, Eric, and I made Oklahoma our home, along with our five kids, three cats, two dogs, and ten chickens.

My desire to create OWLS emerged when my children became school age and I went in search of an educational environment that aligned with our own teaching and life philosophies. I saw classrooms with more screens than windows, playgrounds entirely comprised of synthetic materials, and lunches lacking nutritional value. When a principal told me that children had to earn the right to have outdoor time, I imagined how my children's love of life and learning might change after being inside for hours each day, sitting at desks under fluorescent lights or in front of computer screens. I realized that if I want an immersive learning experience for my own children - one that melds traditional knowledge with modern skillsets - I would have to make it a reality. I look forward to working with you and your children along your life-long educational journeys! ​