Alumni Questions

1. Where are you from originally?

I was born and raised in Rexburg, Idaho

2. What made you decide to attend BYU? Favorite thing about the school?

I loved Rick’s College and wanted a similar learning and spiritual environment. All my friends were going to BYU as well.

3. What academic degree(s) did you receive? Year graduated?

I graduated with a B.S. in Business Education with a Minor in French Education. Eventually I earned a M.ED in Special Education in 1991.

4. What have you been doing since you graduated? Is this what you originally planned to do?

I started teaching business and French at a private school for troubled teens. After twelve years and having earned a special ed. degree, I began working for Provo School District at the elementary level and have loved it. I have enjoyed understanding how children with disabilities learn and get great pleasure out of seeing them read for the first time with confidence.

5. What have you enjoyed most about your life since graduating?

Besides teaching, I have taken up road cycling over two years ago. I have developed a passion for cycling year round when possible. It has helped me stay in great physical and mental condition. I ride Traverse Mountain and American Fork Canyon regularly. I think I am a better teacher having taken up cycling.

6. What did you gain from your BYU education that has aided you in your professional/life pursuits? Is there a special moment that sticks out to you?

I remember a professor saying over and over, “there is no recipe for every type of student.” I have truly gained an appreciation for the uniqueness and miracle that constitutes each individual I teach --and hopefully my approach to them reflects that.

7. Have you learned anything during your career that you didn’t expect/ didn’t learn during your formal education?

You have to take care of yourself physically and spiritually, or you can’t really be of help to others to your full potential if you don’t and… Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate!

8. Briefly tell me about your family.

I have a daughter, Madeleine, who is 13 and a son who lives with me, Bridger, age 11. Bridger and I live in Highland and he attends Wasatch Elementary--my school, is learning the trumpet (like dad). He loves the 6^th grade and is an excellent student. I will miss him when he transitions to middle school next year.

9. What do you do on your free time?

Besides cycling every day, I love to read biographies. You can learn a lot about human nature and yourself from reading the lives of famous people. I recently learned that the restored church is primarily a “historical” church instead of a strictly theological church. That makes a lot of sense to me since our understanding of truth has been literally a matter of historical record from which we can all study-- even as in ancient times.

10. What’s a life goal you still hope to achieve?

Peace-- in whatever environment I can influence. We live in such a chaotic world today.

Was there a professor in particular who had an impact on your life?

Betty Harrison—she was so professional in every way, but you could always tell she cared—about you, the community, and students with disabilities in general. I still remember and use her techniques every day. She had a dream to create an open community learning center in Provo. Maybe someday that dream will become a reality.