In short...
I have been an Eden Prairie resident since 1988 and have been married for 32 years to my husband, Ken. We have three daughters. Beth is a junior at Arizona State University, and both Valerie and Victoria are college graduates. All three of our daughters went through the Eden Prairie School system.

I have a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in chemistry from Sonoma State University, California.

Long term involvement in schools
I was first elected to the Eden Prairie School Board in 1995 and I have learned so much. I have been privileged to be the Eden Prairie School Board Chair for two separate terms and presently serve as Chair. Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota School Boards Association (representing all of Hennepin County, except Minneapolis) and the Board of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts. I am on the board of the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools and on the board of the Eden Prairie A Better Chance Foundation. I served on the Preserve Association board for 11 years, as well as served on the Eden Prairie Soccer Association Board. I have a very long list of community and school involvement and I bring these experiences to bear in addressing the issues in the district.

It is my belief that kids need connections to a multitude of opportunities in order to be successful. These connections begin with families and extend out to school, art, music, scouts, sports, church, work and more. In order to find their niche in life our kids must have much more than a basic education. Kids need to be challenged to reach their highest potential in many areas. Students need to know how to apply their knowledge in order to function in our ever-changing world. The adults of tomorrow must be given the opportunity to find success in a wide range of disciplines. I believe education must respond to meet the needs of a global society.

Our community values education and recognizes that strong schools make a strong community. The Eden Prairie School District is a well-run district because of a very dedicated staff that cares about children. Given the increased expectations of our students in an increasingly competitive world, we have a responsibility to provide an education that will meet the future needs of our students and society.