I grew up in Dutchess County, and both my parents and my maternal grandmother were teachers. I grew up with a sense of how important education is and how we should help others. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Special Education and completed my Masters’ degrees in Reading and Special Education. I taught in the Ichabod Crane and East Greenbush School Districts, worked in Special Education and School Improvement at the New York State Education Department, and now work part-time for Questar III Board of Cooperative Education Services (B.O.C.E.S.) in a self-contained special education school. As a college student, I worked with Developmentally Disabled adults and in a preschool for students with special needs. Later on, I volunteered for the Special Olympics where I combined my love of working with children and being active. I met Mary Ellen early on in my teaching career and in the beginning of S.T.R.I.D.E. in the faculty room at Ichabod Crane Primary School, and I was immediately intrigued and hooked on helping the population that STRIDE served. The rest is history (or her-story) as they say. I initially volunteered for camping, became a Camping Director, helped with fundraising and decorating at the Masquerade Ball, was a ski instructor, volunteered for the Sailing and Whitewater Rafting programs, walked in the annual Community Walk for STRIDE, and founded the Teen Dance Event. I even sold the most raffle tickets one year at our Great (ski) Race raffle, which I also facilitated for a few years. Currently, I’m a member of the Dave & Marisa Clark Memorial Scholarship Award Committee,I lead the Youth Club and teach Zumba and other fitness classes for the Community Wellness side of STRIDE. Not only has STRIDE enhanced my experience as a special educator, STRIDE is like a family and has also been a part of my family. I have many photos that show how precious the participants are, how much I’ve enjoyed being involved, and how this organization has changed the lives of so many, including myself. I feel delighted to be a part of making a difference with our athletes and light up every time one of our students shows their excitement at being engaged in a STRIDE activity. I live in West Sand Lake, just up the hill from the STRIDE office, though I’ve been with the organization since the office was in DeFreestville and when Mare coordinated the activities out of her home office. I live with my teenage daughter (who participated in STRIDE events when she was younger), our 2 year-old Australian Shepherd dog ‘Cookie’ and 14 year-old Calico cat ‘Olive.’  And after many years of volunteering, as a ‘veteran’ STRIDE’er, in semi-retirement, I look forward to many more rewarding years with STRIDE.