Occupation: I have been a paraeducator in special education for 12 years. This is my eighth year in Newtown Middle School, and prior to that, I worked in Sandy Hook School. I chose to become a paraeducator while my children were young so I could be home with them, and then quickly grew to love working with kids in an academic setting. My social work background has provided me with excellent tools and strategies that I use on a daily basis, thereby blending my interests and skills together to help students succeed.

Family: I have two sons, Jonathan and Andrew. Jonathan is 20 years old and studying professional writing at WestConn. Andrew is 17 and a senior at Newtown High School, preparing to graduate early in January. His goal is to work for the next eight months to save up some money before he leaves for college. My husband, Craig, and I have been married for 25 years and together for 30. I call him a “serial entrepreneur.” Throughout the time we’ve been together, he’s started a variety of businesses and always has another idea for something else. He currently owns Varidigm Technologies LLC here in Newtown. Our latest project was developing a program called Book Builder, now offered at C.H. Booth Library, which his brother also helped out with. When I’m not working in school, I help with the business administration end of the company as well.

Pets: We have a cat, who I refer to as my Itty Bitty Kitty, even though he’s around 12 pounds and isn’t tiny. We also have one gerbil named Jesse.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Twelve years. We came from Pennsylvania before we moved here, and we had heard good things about the town from a family who lived in Connecticut. I liked that it had that quintessential New England feel and a good school system for the kids.

What do you like to do in your free time? I’ve always loved writing. It’s a great retreat into my imagination and allows me free rein with my sense of humor. Most pieces I’ve kept to myself, but in the last few years, I worked with an illustrator to self publish one book, Little Donny Tantrum Off The Wall, and am working on a few other picture books simultaneously now. I also love to read and be outdoors hiking, kayaking, or trying to make it look like I know what I am doing in the garden.

Do you have a favorite book or author? I love to read Jodi Picoult’s books, because they are so varied. She touches on a lot of different subjects, and I learn things from reading her books. If I had to choose one book as my favorite, I’d choose Into The Wild. I think you discover a lot about yourself in moments of solitude.

What is the best part about Newtown? I like the overall feeling of community. People are welcoming and friendly.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My husband. Because of his mindset about things, whenever I want to do something, he is 110 percent supportive of it. Even times when I am doubting myself, he is there to push me and motivate me.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? Oprah Winfrey. I find her background and career are very inspirational. She is someone I feel I can learn a lot from.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I have anything from Metallica to The Partridge Family on my phone. My favorite song is “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, because it’s about how your life has so many possibilities and your life is unwritten — you’re creating your own path.

What is your favorite movie? A Beautiful Mind. It showcases the struggles of mental illness in a very creative way. It also shows the brilliance that often times gets masked by mental illness.

What is your favorite quote? “Let your smile change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile.”

What is something you cannot live without? Chocolate — but also a sense of humor. It’s my lifeline.

What is your proudest accomplishment? I’m super proud of my kids and everything they’ve accomplished. I’m also proud for having grown into myself. You go through different stages and experiences in life that mold you to who you become. At this stage in my life, I am most comfortable with who I am and the decisions I make. I feel confident and happy, I accept my faults for what they are, and I learn and grow.