I am a Colorado native, born and raised in Denver. From a very young age I knew I wanted to be a child’s first teacher so I was so fortunate to be what I wanted to be when I grew up. I have an A.A. in Early Childhood Education and continue to read books on child and brain development. I started out with a licensed child care center in my home, taught part-time at Peter Pan Cooperative Preschool in Boulder and Apple Tree Christian Preschool in Broomfield. At the same time I was working at the Broomfield Library as the Children’s Program Coordinator. My experience working with young children afforded me the opportunity to co-author a book with Saroj Ghoting, titled STEP into Storytime: Using StoryTime Effective Practice to Strengthen the Development of Newborns to Five Year Olds.
combining brain and child development with curriculum. In 2007, I was honored with the Heart of Broomfield for The Arts.
I love to travel, with the beach being my favorite destination.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have been married to Roy for 50 years. We have two sons, Casey and Brian, and one daughter, Katrina and two grandsons, Davis and Colin, and one granddaughter Whitney. We live in the same house where we raised our kids, so there are dejavu moments as we watch the grandkids grow. I l also have a great daughter-in law Kelly and wonderful son-in-law Mike Westphal.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I worked two part-time jobs simultaneously, preschool teacher and Children’s Librarian. I loved working with children and enjoyed teaching as well as providing children’s programming, story times parent trainings, and outreach in the community.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Scalzottos and Ziggy’s Coffee on 120th.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in Broomfield for 48 years and worked here for 42 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I met Jane Spain thru Dance Arts and the Broomfield Council on the Arts and Humanities.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Hidden Figures. I loved learning about these intelligent and persistent women.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Be kind, honest and live with integrity.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Broomfield Council on the Arts and Humanities has been providing support for local artists and free or low-cost programming for all ages, kids – seniors since 1973.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would love to have lunch at Bad Daddys Burgers with President Obama because of his intelligence, eloquence and great smile.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The Broomfield Library. I had the pleasure of working as the Children’s Program Coordinator and Children’s Librarian in all 3 library buildings from 1982 -2019.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I will still be retired and staying active by forcing myself to go to the gym and hopefully still do some traveling. I will be spending time with family and friends and volunteering with the Broomfield Council on the Arts and Humanities.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
My friend Margaret Basnett and I raised $50,000.00 for the “Generations” sculpture, bench, and plaque that is in front of the library, the first sculpture in Broomfield.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Our weekly family dinner night with kids and grandkids.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My grandkids. I want to leave them with the best future possible.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, love and support.
