Executive Director

It is with great excitement that I receive the opportunity to be part of the Policy Leadership Academy. I am honored to be a part of the 4^th Leadership Academy class here in Nebraska and look forward to the journey ahead.

I recently signed on as the very first Executive Director for Nebraska Head Start Association. I am honored to be part of such a vibrant and important organization.  The Head Start Association in Nebraska is clearly passionate about the mission of Head Start and work hard every day to serve the children, families, and communities in our great state.

I come to Head Start and the Leadership Academy with a diverse background in education, sales, management, and advocacy. I have a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. I have taught grades PK, K, 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd in both rural and urban settings. I continue to serve as a substitute teacher at Lincoln Public Schools.

In addition, I was a medical sales representative at Johnson & Johnson, calling on ophthalmologists in a 3-state region. I also served as Regional Director of Membership at Nebraska Farm Bureau as well as Director of Ag Literacy. We educated children about where their food comes from and advocated for farmers and ranchers across the state of Nebraska.

When I am not working with Nebraska Head Start Association, I spend my time managing my family’s beef company, Crow Butte Beef. My family operates a cattle ranch out near Whitney, Nebraska and we raise and sell all-natural, black angus cattle.

Most importantly, I am a mother to three children. I have a 13-year-old daughter named Beth and 11-year-old twin boys, Jake, and Grant. They are the light of my life and motivate me to do what I do every day.

I look forward to serving our Head Start programs and working toward our mission every day. I will strive to provide leadership and advocate for Nebraska children, families, and their communities to positively impact their quality of life.