I was born, raised and educated in Scotland. My first teaching position was in a small rural school in the highlands where I taught next door to a wonderful and experienced teacher from whom I learned so much.  Every new teacher should be fortunate to have such a mentor!  I went on to teach elementary school for ten years before becoming an assistant principal, and eventually principal, of a school similar to our Lower School.  It was an exciting time for the education system in Scotland.  Major changes were being made to the curriculum and I was able to provide input on the proposed changes and
was even appointed to serve as a parent liaison. 

Of all the valuable sources of professional development I have been exposed to, I believe the most influential was my volunteer work with the Girl Guide Association, which is similar to Girl Scouts in that it provides non-formal leadership education for girls and young women.  I was a trainer of adult leaders serving finally as the Adviser for Programme and Training Development for the U.K.  During these years I was given the opportunity to travel abroad which, to me, is a great education itself.

So what brought me to the United States and Portledge?  During my last year of high school I had begun a "pen friendship" with a Boy Scout in New York.  We corresponded for many years, meeting for the first time when I spent a year in upstate New York as an exchange teacher.  We continued to write, meeting from time to time on either side of the Atlantic.  Eventually we decided to marry and I moved to New York.  It was certainly my intention to continue teaching in the US.  For a time I worked at Futurekids, an after school computer center which was great for my technology experience but I longed to return to the classroom and was delighted to be offered the opportunity to teach at Portledge.  In 2000, I earned my Master of Science in Computer Education from CW Post in order to stay abreast of the rapid impact technology is having in the classroom.