I joined the Modeling community in 2017 after pivoting from academia and phylogenetics research to K-12 teaching. My first Chemistry workshop at Tempe Prep introduced me to the AMTA community that has supported and sustained me ever since. I have taken workshops in Physics, Chemistry, Modeling Cognition, and leadership. In the past decade I have incorporated Modeling pedagogy into middle and high school biological and physical sciences courses across Virginia, Arizona, and Louisiana. I currently teach 8th grade Physics at BASIS Phoenix and spend as much free time as possible exploring the mountains of the desert southwest with my family and dogs.