Occupation: I’m the director of communications at Newtown Youth Academy, as of March 1. I just came off a five-year hiatus, staying home with my kids. I didn’t realize how much I had missed contributing to something bigger than my personal life. There’s real satisfaction in working for a nonprofit organization, too.

Family: I’m married to John, or “Juf,” as I was first introduced to him. We have a 15-year-old daughter, Dori, at Newtown High School. Adam is a seventh grader at Newtown Middle School and is 12 years old. Paige is a fourth grader at Hawley School, and she’s 10.

Pets: I have a dog, 4-year-old Charlie. He’s a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. He’s a little territorial, and not a normal Cavalier.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We’ve been in Newtown for eight years. Before that, we lived in Brookfield and Bethel.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to find new music to listen to. I love exercising, too, but I don’t really consider that free time; it’s more a part of every day. I like to play Words With Friends, and I have a lot of interest in the arts. My hobby is graphic design. In my real spare time, I would like to make more of the canvas memories that I’ve done in the past.

Do you have a favorite band? Not a favorite band, really. In the last year, I’ve started listening to Indie and a little metal and 90s music. Pink and Christina Aguilera keep ending up on my play list. There are very few styles of music I don’t like.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? Denver, Colorado. I went last year for the first time, and fell in love with the Rockies. Now I’m committed to going back and skydiving over the Rockies. I’m absolutely going to do that within the next couple of years.

What is the best thing about Newtown? There are a few things. I think what our schools and parents have done in terms of preventing bullying is remarkable. I see a camaraderie between the arts and the sports. It was not like that when I was in high school. Here, the arts kids are attending the sports events, and the sports kids are at the theater events. I think the kids are teaching the parents. I also like the potential of Fairfield Hills. I’m excited to see what will happen there. The other thing is, I’ve learned there is really no more than two degrees of separation between people here. I think that’s unique, and I like that.

What has been the greatest influence in your life? Technology. It has helped me in a lot of different ways, especially in overcoming ADHD and helping me to develop my potential. From word processing to spread sheets, technology helps me organize my thoughts. Then there’s the Internet: I use it as my portable library. Within my career I’ve met people from across the globe, and I’ve been able to stay in touch with them and reconnect. [Technology] gives me a sense of confidence. It has really changed my life.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Be grateful. Ultimately, it makes you someone others want to be around.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? It’s listening to my kids’ music, dancing until I can’t breathe, and then sitting an watching reruns of Friends!