Occupation: I've been a high school science teacher since 1999. I taught at Bethel High School for quite a few years, and now I am teaching at Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology Education Center. It's an interdistrict school in Bridgeport. We teach advance sciences and technology, then the kids go back to their other high schools for the rest of the day. I teach biology and get to use the boat once a week and do all kinds of sampling - it's a marine biology teacher's dream job. We also grow seaweed, clams, tilapia, and we have an indoor fish hatchery and market that the kids run. The students really benefit from having applied learning happening at their school. It's a great place to work, and a great place for kids to go to school.

Family: My husband, Rick, and I have been married since 2002. He is a software engineer at Boehringer Ingelheim. We have two children; our daughter, Ainsley, is 11 and very artsy. She plays the saxophone, and she also plays soccer. We have a son, Noel; he's 8. He's a sports junkie; he plays soccer, basketball, and baseball.

Pets: We have four chickens, Olive, Pepper, Brownie, and Puddin'; one boy beta fish named Petunia Tulip; and four little tiny shrimp.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Since 2002. At the time we didn't have children and were living in a condo, but we had a dog and needed more space. We looked up the house for sale and - honest to goodness - we put a circle on the map and said, "Location, location, location." We dragged our realtor there and that was it.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to do outdoorsy stuff. I like to ski, do yard work at my house, go hiking. I'm getting into mountain biking, I just started it in the fall.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? About two years ago my husband and I went to Paris. We went to a lot of museums and parks. We also did an Airbnb, so we were living in someone's little apartment, and that was probably my favorite part - sitting on the balcony eating our dinner. We felt like we lived there. It was really unique. I would love to go back and take the kids to Europe. For quick weekend travel destinations, we love to take the kids to the Poconos and the Jersey Shore.

What is the best thing about Newtown? I love my neighborhood and my neighbors. We have also been so pleased with the school system, especially the opportunities for the arts and music. It is really incredible, and I don't think a lot of people understand how good the programs are here. We are very, very lucky.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents. We had a lot of fun growing up, and they always encouraged my love of animals, science, and outdoorsy spirit.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? I would love to sit with President Obama. I think we've had a very interesting time in the last eight years, and we have probably a more interesting time coming up. So, I would love to get his take on his legacy.

Do you have a favorite TV show? Right now I'm watching Westworld. It's about humanistic robots that gain consciousness. My other favorite shows are Parenthood and Gilmore Girls - I just started watching the revival.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? When I was a young mother and had my baby someone told me, "You'll get a lot of advice, don't listen to any of it. Follow your gut."

Who are your favorite musical artists? I like a lot of different types of music. I like some of the old classics like Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Harry Belafonte.