All About Me

Education: I graduated from Kutztown University in December of 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood. I substituted for 6 years while taking care of three children, until I got hired by the Hamburg Area School District in 1999. I taught fifth grade my first year and fourth grade since then. I have earned my Masters degree plus 27 credits through many colleges and universities.

Family: I am married to my husband, Kurt, of 26 years and, I have 5 wonderful children I am very proud of.

Kurt works for Boilermakers Local #13, where he is called to work at Nuclear Power Plants (he helped defuel Three Mile Island after the meltdown), Trash to Steam Plants, and Oil Refineries. His job has taken him to Spain, Italy, England, Netherlands and all over the United States.

Beau is 26 and the oldest of my children. He is working for Tank Services in New Jersey. He attended WTTI, Welding, Training and Testing Institute, in Allentown after graduation. He welds on fuel tanks in Bayone, NJ.

Corey is 24 and very athletic. He was a great track and cross country athlete while attending HAHS. Corey is working at a window factory in Tower City.

Destinee is 20. She works for Pure Wild Tea and manufactured homes in Pinegrove. She is an excellent help as a big sister to her younger siblings.

Patience is 13 and in seventh grade. Patience is employed by Kathy Donahue's Models and Talents. Patience did 3 modeling jobs for Toys R Us and was featured on a wooden bead barrel for 2 years. Patience also enjoys hip hop, jazz, tap, acro, and ballet. Patience loves to help take care of Serenity, since it is just like playing with a baby doll.

Serenity was a firecracker baby being born on July 4th. After Serenity's birth, we were treated to a real firework display outside the hospital. This was fitting with the timing of her delivery. She was two weeks early, so she weighed in at 5 pounds 14 ounces and, she was 18 1/2 inches long. Serenity is now 4 years old. Time has really gone by quickly. 

Finally, I'll tell you about me. When I am not spending time at school or dance class, I love to work at my growing tea business. If you haven't heard, I own Pure Wild Tea, a mint tea beverage business. I grow, pick, steep, bottle, cap and label mint tea at my residence located between Shartlesville and Strausstown off of old route 22. When I was a little girl my mother would pick meadow mint tea along creaks and in swamps, then make a cold refreshing tea from it. When I was old enough, I would go pick the tea for her. My love of this tea, and the memories of my mother, inspired me to want to start a tea beverage business. In 2011, I bought a 6 head automated fill system and put my dream into action. I contacted WFM, a label design company in Shillington, and ended up on a journey I could've only dreamed of. WFM designed my label and then created a packaging concept. This packaging concept was entered into an expo contest in Las Vegas. They earned a spot in the top 10. Since then, Pure Wild Tea has been featured on a full back page in a Packaging magazine. My tea is sold at WayHar in Bernville, Grube's in Shoey, Blue Marsh Market in Bernville, and the Strausstown Rod and Gun club in Strausstown. Checkout my website at www.purewildtea.com. Remember, anything is possible, it all starts with a dream.

A couple of quotes that inspire me are:

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
 -Michael Jordan