Firebirds
Because I am so busy teaching and playing gigs, we eat out a lot. One place my husband, Noah, and I frequent is Ragtime Cafe. We love being able to sit outside at Ragtime Cafe in the spring, summer and fall. I am partial to their fried oysters and wedge salad. I also love to eat at Firebird’s on a night-out.
The Hoover Met
My favorite place to be outside in the city is at the Hoover Met for the Hoover High School football games. I love seeing our band students march pregame, halftime and perform in the stands. The games are also preceded by a patio party at which our First Edition Jazz Band, which I direct, performs. At last count, including playoff games and championship games, I have been to 452 Hoover (Berry) High School football games as associate band director for Hoover High School.
Teaching at Hoover High School
I have been blessed for 34 years to teach in Hoover. I started teaching here in 1990 at Berry High School, Simmons Middle School, Gwin Elementary School and Shades Mountain Elementary School. Since 2001, I have been at Hoover High School teaching band, jazz band and AP music theory. I have had the opportunity to teach thousands of incredible students. I am now teaching children of students I taught years ago.
A Love of Music
My students mean the world to me. They are such hard-working young people who put their heart into making music and sharing it with others. In December 2023, the First Edition Jazz Band performed in Chicago at The Midwest Clinic. This was a huge honor to be selected to play at this conference, and my students represented our school and our state in an outstanding manner. Watching them progress in their abilities and learn to love music as I do is so rewarding, especially when they are able to share that love and learning with others, too.
Riverchase Community Church
Noah and I met at Riverchase Community Church, where we later got married and raised our children. My mom and dad also attended church there, and as a family, being all together during services was wonderful. I am blessed to play piano there most Sundays.
