I am a lifelong Ohian. I was born and raised on the southeast side of Columbus in a working class neighborhood. My childhood was not easy. My brother died when I was 4 years old due to sucicide. From that point on, my life went upside down. My parents divorced and my mom married an abusive man. Mental health is important to me and will guide my decisions on the campaign and at the Statehouse.

After I graduated from Groveport Madison Local Schools I started at Columbus State Community College. I moved in with my now husband because we both were trying to save ourselves from our upbringing. I was in College when Jason and I were married. I graduated in 1999 and celebrated both our anniversary and my graduation in our first home.

I was working for a lobbyist law firm Rineheart, Howarth, Rishel & Kopech. I stayed in politics when I went to work for the Columbus City Attorney’s Office as a victim advocate. I have always had the need to help people in need as the government should work to make the lives of its citizens easier, better. I worked there until the birth of my second son. I took a leap of faith and stayed at home until my youngest son started school.

When my youngest went to Kindergarten at Amanda Clearcreek Elementary, I went to work as a substitute for Lancaster City Schools. I fell in love with teaching. I went to Muskingum University. While I was in school for early childhood education, my husband and I adopted two children from West Elementary in Lancaster City Schools. Instantly,our family went from four to six. 

After I graduated from Muskingum University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a minor in psychology summa cum laude in 2014, I went to work as a 3rd grade teacher at Millersport Elementary. Millersport Lakers have a place in my heart always! 

It is the reprehensible policies our current federal administration and the Ohio Statehouse is making that called for me to make some changes, and it started with this campaign. As Ohioans we must do better!