Occupation: I am the Director of Education at Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center.

Family: My husband is Zach Houston, and I have three sons: Micah, Silas, and Eli.

Pets: We have three guinea pigs named Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon because of a great love for the Percy Jackson books in our house. We also have nine chickens, including two that look like dalmatians and are named Pongo and Perdita after the dogs in 101 Dalmatians.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We moved to Newtown in 2008, so we have been here about 14 years now!

What do you like to do in your free time? I am a bibliophile and one of my goals over the past couple of years has been to diversify my reading. This has meant reading BIPOC authors or books with BIPOC main characters – and it has been such a wonderful journey! I also sew 18th century clothing items so that I can be in costume when I docent with the Newtown Historical Society or when I am running school programs at work.

What is your favorite book? My most recent favorite fantasy book is The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab and my most recent favorite nonfiction is Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England by William Cronon.

What is your favorite travel destination? Pilgrim Pines in Keene, New Hampshire. It is a family camp that we go to in the summer to completely rest, relax, unplug, and unwind in nature.

What is the best part about Newtown? I love the communities of people I have come to know — from the MOMs Club to Newtown Historical Society to sports teams — everyone is very supportive of each other and really seeks ways to be better and do better.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? I am the current Board President of the Newtown Historical Society, and I am the Chair of the Learning Subcommittee for the Newtown Allies for Change.

Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? My family has had an enormous impact on my life in terms of my values and in creating my own family culture. My mother was a teacher and librarian, so learning has always been valued. My father has always worked hard to balance providing for our family and making sure to be at our games or other childhood events, so I strive to do the same with my children. There are so many people who’ve impacted me, but my faith is a large part of that as well. Hence my son’s name, Micah, which is for the verse in the Bible, “He has taught you oh man what is good, and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.”

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? This question is really hard. I think I would choose one of my grandparents, because when I was growing up I didn’t take the time to learn their stories. They lived such amazing lives; I feel each one of them would have something to teach me.

Who is your favorite musical artist? It depends on my day but currently it’s either Pink or Florence and the Machine.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? With all the stress of the past two years, one phrase my father says has kept rolling through my mind, “Sometimes, work is just work.”

What is something you cannot live without? My husband, because he is my sounding board and confidant who keeps my feet firmly planted in reality so that I don’t burn out trying to do, as he says, “all the things.”

What is your proudest accomplishment? My children — they are all amazing! I am very proud of them and their curiosity keeps me joyful. Professionally, I am proud of the articles I have had published in scholarly journals and museum publications.