I have been teaching for many years, and every year I just want to be better than the year before.  We have such an amazing classroom and I am so thankful that our community has built this beautiful facility!  I am from Hartselle originally and love this community.  I graduated valedictorian in 1981 from the first graduating class of Hartselle High School. (It was formerly Morgan County High School.) I graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Southern Mississippi, with a BS in Mathematics and Secondary Education.  I played fastpitch softball on scholarship there and was inducted into the Dixie Softball Hall of Fame in 1999.  I received a Master's (MA) degree and Educational Specialist degree (EdS) from UAB, both in Mathematics Education.  I am chairperson of the math department, one of the faculty advisors for HHS Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), and the head softball coach at Hartselle Junior High School. I have  a National Certificate for STEM Teaching (NCST) and an Instructional Mastery Certificate from ACT for Mathematics. I recently earned an Instructional Mastery Certificate from ACT for Science. I am married to Guy Battles and we have three children and two bonus children: Noah (Elsa), Seth, and Sarah Ellen (Lane). And, I am "Nonna" to my sweet Nathaniel James.  I also have the special joy of having my daughter, Sarah Ellen (Mrs. Anders), work along side me as a math teacher at HHS. I am so blessed!