I am a native of Panama City, Panama. I moved to the United States soon after graduating from high school. I have four siblings; three of them live here in the US. I have two adopted daughters from Ghana whom I helped stay in the US after they came as exchange students to do a year abroad with me with each holding a Bachelor of Science in Biology. One has a Post-doctorate degree in Biochemistry, the second one holds a Master's in Epidemiology and Public Health.  I am a self-proclaimed nerd who loves all that is science, science fiction, and cartoons. I am the proud mom of a miniature poodle named Mona. I love to dance and used to perform in my national Panamanian attire. Most importantly, I love helping my students reach their fullest potential.  

I have been an educator since 1996 and have served in various capacities during my tenure as an educator. I have served as a Senior Class sponsor, Robotics Team sponsor, Science Club sponsor, the National Honors Science Society sponsor, and HOSA-Future Health professionals advisor. I've served as a master teacher for the DNA Van program out of the University of Missouri Columbia, where I helped and taught teachers how to do DNA extraction purification and worked with teachers to run an efficient program at their schools. I was the first teacher in the state of Missouri trained in New York in Authentic Science Research in secondary classrooms, and successfully implemented this training in her classroom, teaching students how to conduct real scientific investigations.  I am a Science Coach, in a program geared to teach students how to conduct Authentic Science research. I have been the Teacher Leader and consultant for the Maps and Medicine summer workshops sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute held at the University of Missouri St Louis.

The 2023-24 school year, I had the honor of being selected as the Missouri HOSA Advisor of the Year.  I was also awarded a Plaque of Merit for the Advisor of the Year at the 46th  HOSA International Leadership Conference. I also won the St. Louis Public Schools STEM Educator of the Year for the 2019–20 school year.