Occupation: I am a special ed paraprofessional at Reed Intermediate School. I have been working in the Newtown school system for 13 years, nine of which have been at Reed. I also have been a photographer part-time since my children were young.

Family: I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Paul, for 38 years. We have three fantastic children who grew up in Newtown. Casey is our oldest and she lives in Upstate New York. Kevin, our middle child, and Katie, our youngest, both live in Connecticut.

Pets: We have a sweet, female 1½-year-old golden retriever named Sophie. She has been an incredible addition to our family. She is loving, gentle, and enjoys meeting new animals and people. If you go to the Newtown Dog Park, I am sure you can find her running around and playing with everyone that comes through the gate.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We have lived in town for 34 years and have lived in four homes throughout town. We have experienced the beautiful countryside of Newtown along with the fun and convenience of in-town living. We love being able to take part in all of the town activities from Halloween to the Turkey Trot and, of course, the Christmas Tree Lighting.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to hike with my family, take photos, and entertain.

What is your favorite book? I have a few: Water for Elephants, The Notebook, and a family favorite I enjoyed reading to my children was The Tale of Despereaux.

What is your favorite travel destination? I have done a lot of traveling. I actually backpacked through Europe with my best friend when I was 20, but my all-time favorite has always been going up to our family summer home on Owasco Lake. It is on one of the Finger Lakes in New York State. My family has been going there for about 140 years.

What is the best part about Newtown? The best part of Newtown is the people. We have an incredible loving and giving community. We love living here.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My mom has been the greatest influence in my life. She had an incredible love for her family and friends. She lived life to the fullest and taught me to be positive, outgoing, and caring. As she would say, she was my biggest cheerleader. I was blessed to have her as my mom.

Who is your favorite musical artist? It is James Taylor. I love his music. Plus, I have always had a major crush on him!

What is something you cannot live without? My family. They are the most important people in my life. The laughter, love, and support we share with one another is the best!

What is your proudest accomplishment? My three children. They are amazing human beings, and I am so lucky to be their mom.