Skills/Mediums: Art Teacher, Ceramics/Clay, Social Justice Themes
Member of ACW since: June 8, 2026
After interning in a South Dakota/North Dakota Native American Teacher Corps program, I taught elementary children in Rapid City, South Dakota, for seven years. Having become aware of the Department of Defense Dependents Educational System overseas through encounters with military friends, my mother's Christmas cards sent from Germany, and the stories of my Teacher Corps team leader, I decided to apply and was accepted for a second-grade position in Seoul, Korea. 37 years later, I've looked back on a "military-connected" career in schools on 9 bases in 6 countries. I was fortunate to teach elementary classes, art, gifted education, to be a school librarian, (all with proper certifications) and to experience other cultures. "Hails and Farewells," the military way of saying hello and goodbye, represented the life of "flux" in which I found myself. Even if one were to stay in a single location, one third of students were mobile at any one time, as were my military friends and fellow teachers.
I decided to settle in Rogers, MN, because of its quiet Villas at Rivers Edge retirement community and a pond in plain view. I knew the Twin Cities, close by, would have much to offer; I had taken a sabatical at the UMN in Art Education in the mid 80's and liked the energy I found here. However, in 2018, the transition to retirement was more difficult than I had expected; I was overwhelmed with too many changes. However, with help from many directions, I'm now at home.
Looking back, I realize I've always been concerned about social justice, perhaps through my father's union membership, my Catholic school education, and the shadow of Viet Nam. While overseas, we couldn't become "politically involved" beause we "represented the United States." But now I can! I'm involved as an advocate in the St. Vincent de Paul Outreach program of the Basilica and am a Court Observer in Juvenile Immigration Court. I'm also on the planning committee of Footsteps of St. Phoebe, encouraging women's leadership in the Church, and in the Women's Spiritual Collective, a multi-denominational group. Occasionally, I demonstrate on Wednesdays with SARI at the Sherburne Co. jail, where immigrants are held, awaiting asylum hearings or deportation.
I look forward to being a contributing member and to getting to know you.