I graduated from West Plains High School in 2017. Those years were very formative, and marked the beginning of my journey into public service. My family has a substantial history of working within the West Plains R-7 School District. I still remember being three years old, sitting on the lunchroom counter with a cup of ice cream at West Plains Elementary while my grandmother finished her shift in the kitchen.

My mother has also worked for the West Plains R-7 district for over 20 years. She spent time working for the Superintendents Office before I was born, but many of you may know her as Ms. V at the West Plains Elementary, where she has worked as a paraprofessional for the Special Education Department for the past 19 years.

Entering high school, I was certain of two things. That I wanted to pursue a career in education (following the footsteps of my mother and grandmother), and that I wanted to play basketball. I loved basketball from a very young age, and playing organized sports is where I developed my character, work ethic, and determination.

I was a student athlete on the Lady Zizzer Basketball Team under the direction of Coach Womack. He taught me the importance of team work, perseverance, and humility.

I was also one of ten students in my graduating class to complete the Early Degree Program, earning my Associate of Arts degree through Missouri State University - West Plains while still earning my high school diploma. It was an amazing opportunity that challenged me academically and professionally.

I continued my education, pursuing my Bachelor of Science through Missouri State University. As many college students do, I switched majors from an education pathway to one in social services. I graduated as a triple major in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Criminology, and Professional Writing.

During my undergraduate education I worked in service to our community. I served as a Substitute Teacher for the West Plains R-7 District as well as the surrounding Rural Schools working with children from preschool to 12th grade. I also worked for a local law firm which assisted vehicular and personal injury victims in navigating the tedious process of insurance claims.

After graduation, I began working for Missouri’s Department of Social Services, where I had the opportunity to help the most vulnerable members of our community. I was an investigator for Children’s Division, where I responded to reports of abuse or neglect, and helped ensure the safety of those children through community collaboration.

During that time, I also began serving as a Per-Course Faculty Member at Missouri State University - West Plains, where I taught several different classes in the Criminology and Law Enforcement departments.

While continuing to work with the local university, I transitioned my employment to Ozarks Health Care - Behavioral Healthcare where I worked directly with children in our community who were facing mental health challenges. I assisted these children in developing healthy coping skills, impulse control, and emotional regulation.

I also spent time working for FCC Behavioral Health at their adolescent facility, RISE, where I served as a Care Coordinator. The children I worked with were experiencing substance use disorders when they entered into the treatment facility. As the Care Coordinator I was a direct care provider, working with the kids to teach them coping skills, developing strategies to control anger, and building a supportive network outside of treatment so they felt prepared facing challenges after treatment.

Currently, I serve our community by working with the adult population through my career at Missouri’s Department of Corrections. I have been a Probation & Parole Officer within Howell County for the past two years. My colleagues and I work with a population that many in our community have lost faith in. Many of my clients have a lengthy criminal history or an extensive substance use disorder. I have clients who are actively experiencing homelessness, clients who are actively struggling with a mental health disorder, and clients who are actively fighting addiction.

I have worked in public service for nearly a decade, despite my young age. I have experience partnering with community agencies, connecting at risk populations to community resources, and navigating the dilemmas facing our community.

These experiences shaped how I think about education, youth development, and community responsibility. I am confident that I bring a unique perspective that would be invaluable to the West Plains R-7 School Board. I have spent my entire career serving the most vulnerable members of our community, and if elected to the school board, I would continue to be conscientious of those populations when advocating for and implementing policies in our schools.