top of page
00:00 / 04:53

Biography

I was born and raised in Wynne, Arkansas. I grew up on a rice/soybean farm with my parents and two older brothers, surrounded by extended family. I have three grown children. My oldest, Rachel is married and lives in Salem, New Hampshire. She and her husband Chris have two beautiful daughters, Norah Kate (age 6) and Lark (age 3).

My middle daughter, Mary Beth, is an interior designer and lives in Rogers, AR, and is the mother to my grandson, Reid (age 8) and granddaughter Sloane (age 6), and grandson, Thatcher (age 2). Our son Gregory lives in Ashburn, VA, and works for Amazon as a software engineer in their security division.

My husband Steve and I live in Fayetteville, AR. He retired in 2019 from Fort Smith Public Schools.

I moved to Fort Smith, AR in 1985. I was a volunteer for many years with Special Olympics Arkansas, serving for several years as the Area IV Director. During my 29 years of teaching Special Education, I was fortunate to have started the first Partners Club in Arkansas.

I had the great privilege of meeting and visiting with Eunice Kennedy Shriver while volunteering at the Special Olympic World Games in Raleigh, North Carolina. Those experiences working with so many teenagers helped me to learn about respect and communication with them.

I have worked through two different mental health agencies in Fort Smith and decided to become full time in my private practice in January 2012. I've been very happy with that decision.

I taught Special Education in Wynne and Fort Smith Public Schools for 29 years. I retired in 2006. I am a Past President of the Arkansas Licensed Counselors Association 2010-2011. I am also a Past-President of the Arkansas Counseling Association whose membership includes school, community, vocational and college counselors.

My Family

bottom of page