Every child has a story.
Every chapter matters.
Our journey has been shaped by foster care, family, education, disability advocacy, and the belief that no one should have to navigate life's hardest chapters alone.
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From lived experience to meaningful support.
My understanding of foster care began long before I became a foster parent or educator. As a child, I experienced separation from my siblings and the uncertainty of decisions that changed our lives. Those experiences stayed with me—not only as memories, but as a reminder that children deserve to be heard and that their relationships matter.
My husband and I are high school sweethearts, and together we are raising eight children—seven adopted and one biological. We have fostered for more than 10 years. Along the way, I have learned that caring deeply is important, but families also need practical information, compassionate guidance, and support that respects each child's unique needs.
My work in special education and family advocacy deepened that commitment. I created Every Child, Every Chapter to bring those experiences together and make meaningful training and resources easier to find.
Experience behind the work
Advocacy has been part of both my family life and my work. For my own children, I have worked with schools, healthcare providers, and child-welfare teams to help their needs be understood and connect them with support. As a special education teacher and academic support program leader, I have brought that same commitment to my students: listening, coordinating individualized supports, and working with families and professionals to help each child access learning.
I hold a degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in elementary and special education. I created and led an inclusive academic support program, supported families through individualized education plans (IEPs) and disability services, and provided professional learning for educators. My background also includes national child-welfare advocacy with the North American Council on Adoptable Children and Advocates for Families First. I am fluent in American Sign Language. These experiences shape the practical, accessible training I want Every Child, Every Chapter to offer.
Family is built through showing up.
Our family's journey has taught me that connection takes intention. Sibling relationships, family reunification, and the sense of belonging that children carry with them deserve care and attention.
That belief is at the heart of our first training, Separated but Still Siblings.
Explore the First Course →Every voice. Every individual. Every possibility.
Listen first
Children, young adults, parents, and educators bring perspectives that deserve to be respected.
Make help accessible
Useful guidance should be clear, practical, and easy to find—not another system to untangle.
Support each chapter
Families and young people grow through different experiences. Support should meet them where they are.
Different personalities.
Equally important voices.
One of my favorite family photographs is simply a row of water bottles. Each one reflects a different personality, interest, and sense of self.
It's a small reminder of something central to our mission: children don't need to be the same to belong. They deserve to be known as individuals.
Stories that helped carry the conversation forward.
Our family's experiences with foster care, adoption, sibling connections, and advocacy have been shared by several news and advocacy organizations.
External reporting reflects the family's circumstances at the time of publication.
Every voice matters.
No family walks alone.
Whether you're a parent, an educator, a young adult, or an organization supporting families, there is a place for you here.
Explore Our Training →