I attended Southwest Texas State University and completed my student teaching at DS Middle School and at DS Primary...now Dripping Springs Elementary!  I was fortunate enough to be hired as a fifth grade teacher for the 1994-95 school year.  I taught fifth grade for two years until my son, Colton, was born.  After taking off a year to stay home with Colton, I came back for the 1997-98 school year as a fourth grade teacher and taught fourth grade for 11 years. Six years ago I was blessed to have the opportunity to come over to the middle school to teach science where I initially wanted to begin my teaching career 20 years ago. My son Colton will be a freshman in college this year, and I also have a ten-year-old son, Coy, who will be in fifth grade this year at the wonderful Walnut Springs Elementary. I am married to my wonderful husband, Chris Payne, who is a special ed teacher at the high school as well as a defensive coach for the varsity football team and the head baseball coach.

During my 19 years of teaching, I have had the opportunity to work with many different kinds of children ranging from those with severe handicaps and/or learning disabilities to those that are gifted.  These experiences have helped shape me into the teacher that I am today.  It is my belief that all students can learn and it is my responsibility to provide a positive, nurturing, and safe place in which my students can be successful.
I am extremely excited about the opportunity to teach 6th graders this year after teaching 8th graders for the last 6 years. I have a great passion and enthusiasm for teaching middle school science and my goal is that your child will share that same passion for science by the end of this school year if he/she doesn't already!