Position at Unity: I teach English 10 to sophomores, American Literature to juniors and Communications II to seniors.

Professional and Educational Background: In 2002 I graduated from Dordt College with a BA in elementary education, a middle school endorsement and a specialization in Language Arts. I taught 5th grade for one year at Sioux Center Christian and 8th grade Language Arts for three years at Annapolis Area Christian School in Annapolis, MD.

Childhood and Family Background: I was born in Muskegon, Michigan, and spent 8 years there before moving with my family to Sioux Center when my parents began teaching at Dordt. I went to Sioux Center Christian Grade School and am a 1998 graduate or Unity Christian. After 4 1/2 formative years at Dordt, I married Laremy DeVries. Together we spent a year in the Netherlands and 3 years in Maryland. In 2008, we moved back to Sioux Center with our newborn daughter and for three years I was able to spend some time at home with Corrie, work and teach a course at Dordt, and open and manage The Fruited Plain Cafe.

Church Life: I attend Covenant Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, the church of my childhood. I am involved in the planning and leading of worship and in the choir.

Life Outside of Unity: My life over the past 2 years has been consumed by The Fruited Plain Cafe which I own with my husband. I have always enjoyed cooking, baking bread, sipping coffee, and hosting parties, and through my work at The Fruited Plain I was blessed to do all that on a much larger scale. I also love music--listening to it and playing it with my husband and now my 3 year old daughter Corrie. As a family, we also enjoy camping, biking and hiking, checking out interesting restaurants, and going to concerts of many kinds. And of course, I love a good book, poem, play or movie. Lately I've read and watched more Curious George than the classics, but they're good too.

Why I Work at Unity: I am passionate about Christian education, and I feel a real calling to be back in the classroom again. How exciting that I get to join the staff and students of Unity Christian, my Alma mater; in a very real sense, I now get to give back. The worldview that I have fashioned with the help of my Christian teachers all the way through college has shaped me into who I am today and continually shapes the way I think and act, the choices I make, the songs I sing and the prayers I pray. I believe that at Unity, with the help of faculty, staff, and parents, I can work to give to others what I have so richly gained in my education.