I was born and raised on a small farm in Pella, IA and attended Pella Christian Grade and High School. I moved to Chicago, IL to attend Trinity Christian College (Bachelors of Music Education) and graduated in 2009. Upon graduation, I thought I would have a small adventure and move from the Midwest to Washington State to begin my music teaching career. (“Only for two-ish years,” I thought to myself). God had greater plans for me! I fell in love with Washington and never left! Since moving to Washington in 2010, I have been involved in Christian Education, teaching elementary, middle, and high school bands and choirs.  God called me to Lynden Christian School to be the director of choral activities in 2018. I desired continued education at Central Washington University and completed my Masters of Music Education in 2021.

It is my passion and a privilege to teach our children how to read, sing, and enjoy music for the glory of God. Learning music is much like “riding a bike”; once you learn how to do it, you will never forget it.  I am thankful and blessed that Jesus uses me to pass on this gift to each one of my students!

Outside of the choral classroom, I enjoy knitting, traveling, cooking, trail running, hiking, and going on the annual summer Sloan Family Vacation to a secluded lake cabin in Minnesota. Although I was living in Washington at the time, Jesus sent me a Midwest husband (also from Pella, IA); Dustin and I were married in 2012. We were further blessed with the birth of our son, Leif, in 2020. Our family attends North County Christ the King Church.

I believe it is important for Christians to remember that God created us with both a mind and spirit and both are important. They must work together to know and understand the will of our Father so we may do His perfect work. Therefore, my favorite Bible verse is I Corinthians 14:15: “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”

Soli Deo Gloria.