Occupation: I have been very fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom since my oldest was born. Being a mom is the most important job I could ever think of doing, and I wouldn’t trade that responsibility for anything in the world. Prior to having my children, I taught first grade at Sandy Hook School — a job that always was and always will be very close to my heart because of the incredible friends and families I met in my tenure there.

Family: My husband, Mike, and I have three children. Matt is a freshman at Newtown High School, Christopher is in seventh grade at Newtown Middle School, and Maggie is in fifth grade at Reed Intermediate. My parents, Marcia and Bob, live in Southington in the house I grew up in; my brother, Derek, and his family live in Cromwell; and my sister, Gretchen, and her family live in Chicago.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Newtown became home to us 16 years ago as the middle ground between my parents and my husband’s parents. I knew instantly that I wanted this town to be where we planted our roots. We’ve always been proud to call Newtown home.

What do you like to do in your free time? Spending time with family and friends is very high up on my list. I love traveling to new places, and I enjoy writing, cooking for my family, and rooting for the Boston Red Sox.

What is your favorite travel destination? I’m a Disney girl at heart, but the trip we took last summer to Italy was absolutely incredible. For my father-in-law’s 80th birthday, we traveled with him and my husband’s brother’s family to trace his roots in Ischia. Being able to stand on the steps of my father-in-law’s childhood home with him and our children, to see the schools and the church he attended, to meet people we’ve only heard stories about from half a world away was something we will treasure forever. The greatest gift was seeing my father-in-law so happy and so proud of his birthplace.

What is the best part about Newtown? There are so many people here that see the importance of stepping up to help others without seeking anything in return. I’m also a huge fan of so many of the teachers in this town. Between former colleagues to educators my children have been fortunate to have, there are countless men and women who have really gone the extra mile and stepped up to be great role models for Newtown’s kids — many of them in the quietest of ways.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My dad. He’s where my faith comes from, my love of baseball, and my deep appreciation for the military. Above all else, he’s taught me to always put others before self — something he has always led by example on. He lost his parents very young in life, and I have always been so in awe of how he rose to the occasion as a parent.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? My mother-in-law, Pauline, died eight years ago, and I would give anything to have had more time with her. I learned so much from her about what truly matters in life in our short time together. She had an incredible sense of humor and a way about her that made you instantly feel important and loved.

What is your favorite quote? I love the Maya Angelou quote, “People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget the way you made them feel.” I find that tugging at my heart in so many interactions I have with people, both strangers and friends. At the end of the day, we all want to feel loved and valued. To be able to give that feeling to others should be our focus each and every day.

How can Newtown improve? My long-term wish for Newtown is for us to support the 26 families who lost loved ones on December 14, 2012. Their grief will never go away, and we need to make sure that our love and support for them and for their causes and foundations do not fade with time. We need to show them time and again through our words and our actions that their loved ones will never, ever be forgotten.