Occupation: I am the Kids’ Program Manager, at Newtown Youth Academy. I’ve been at NYA since October 2009.

Family: My husband is Matt. We’re high school sweethearts from Newtown High School. We got married in 2011. Both of our parents still live here in Newtown.

Pets: We don’t have pets, but we currently live with roommates who have two dogs. I guess the dogs are more like our nephews.

How long have you lived in Newtown? I have lived here since I was 6 years old, and in Bethel before that. So I’ve always been from this area.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to read and I like watching recurring drama series on TV. When it’s warm out, I like going for hikes.

Do you have a favorite book? I like fantasy series. I actually read a lot of young adult books. They’re good! Right now, I’m rereading Delirium, by Lauren Oliver. It takes place in a future where love is considered a disease.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? Probably Disney World. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve visited. Around five or six times, I think. I like Lake George, N.Y., and Long Beach Island, N.J., too. Those were kind of our family vacations when I was growing up, so it’s fun to go back and visit.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The community. It might seem cliché, but it’s true. I’ve gotten to know a lot of people in my job, and I love the people I’ve met. The parents are great, the kids are great. There’s something about the Newtown community. We’re basically a family.

What has been the greatest influence in your life? I would say my college experience changed me the most and for the better. I was very shy going into college, and I’m much more outgoing now. If it hadn’t been for my 3½ years at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, I think I’d be a very different person.

Do you have a personal philosophy? The Golden Rule: Treat others the way you’d want to be treated. It’s so easy to be nice. Another saying that has stuck with me is, be kind to others, for they are fighting their battles, too.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? Watching The Bachelor is probably my guilty pleasure! I can’t not watch it. It’s very ridiculous, but I still love it.