Hello

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ABOUT ME

 

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I grew up on Lake Fenton in Michigan from birth to age 10 and then moved to Linden, Michigan from age 10-17, surrounded by sports, the water, and a family navigating generational wounds. My father struggled with alcoholism, my mother carried her own unspoken trauma, and as a child, I learned to survive by staying small, quiet, and responsible. Those early experiences shaped how I viewed myself—and how I moved through the world.

 

Sports became the place where I felt confident and alive. I went on to become a Division I athlete at Michigan State University, later traveling as a professional softball player. Coaching followed naturally. For more than 12 years I coached college athletes and spent over a decade coaching youth. Those environments showed me what happens when adults are regulated—and what happens when they aren’t.

 

Today, I am a public-school educator with a Master’s in Education, certified in health and physical education, and dedicated to supporting students in both general and special-needs settings. My classroom experience has taught me the same lesson coaching did: children respond to our energy long before they respond to our words.

 

My upcoming book, Naive Perceptions, blends memoir with a field guide for adults. I share my own story of childhood wounds, loss, parenting, and healing—and I provide practical tools for teachers, coaches, and parents to break shame-based cycles. The truth is simple:

Kids don’t need perfect adults—they need regulated ones.

 

That belief inspired the creation of TeachCoachParent (TCP)—a movement and resource hub for adults who want to “do better” for the kids in their lives. Through speaking engagements, workshops, coaching, and writing, I help adults understand their own patterns, regulate their emotions, and build environments where children can grow with courage, connection, and confidence.

 

Whether on the field, in the classroom, or at home, I believe every moment with a child is an opportunity to shape the next generation. My goal is to empower adults to make those moments intentional—and shame-free.

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