Occupation: In a volunteer capacity, I’m the advisor for two student newspapers, one at Sandy Hook and another one at Reed Intermediate. I teach the children all aspects of journalism and the newspaper business and help them publish four issues each year. I’ve worked professionally in newspapers and when we lived in Minnesota I created and published a four-color city magazine. Before I started staying home with my children, I worked for IBM in marketing and in business partner development. I’m a member of the Newtown Board of Education.

Family: My husband, Tom; my daughter, Laura, who is 16; Danny is 12; and Jack is 8 years old. I really feel I have four children, though, as between Danny and Jack we had a stillborn daughter, Sabrina.

Pets: We’ve always had cats. We have three kitties rescued from the grounds of Waterbury Hospital, who were hand raised by a woman who rescues kittens from feral cats. Willy, Cody, and Hannah are 2 years old now.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We have been here for 12 years.

What do you like to do in your free time? I’m a big reader of all types of books. I belong to a book group and the current book we are reading is called Ella Minnow Pea, by Mark Dunn. It’s a political satire on government going awry. It’s funny. Personally, I’m reading the latest Ann Patchett book, Run. My husband and I love to go to book fairs. I do like to spend a lot of time with my husband, my kids, and my friends. Some of my favorite times are spent just sitting on the screened porch and talking with my husband.

Do you have a favorite book? I have so many favorites. I find that any book that has won the Booker Award I end up liking.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? That would be Waupaca, Wis., and the Waupaca Chain of Lakes. They are glacial lakes and are just gorgeous. When we lived in Minnesota we went there almost every weekend. We did a big three-week Grand Canyon and West trip two years ago. That was just wonderful.

What is the best thing about Newtown? One thing I’ve come to love is being able to walk into a store and know the owner and have a relationship with that person. And obviously, all of the people in Newtown. People really care about each other here.

Do you have a personal philosophy? It is one from my mother: Always have an open heart and an open mind. I try not to prejudge and I do give people a second chance. I don’t make snap judgments. I try to pass that on to my kids, too.

Do you have a hero? My mom. I was raised by strong women, my mother and grandmother. My dad died when I was 14 and my sister was 6, and my mother raised us alone. She always has a smile on her face. She has MS, but she still flies out here from Kansas City four times a year. She always finds the good in life. She absolutely soaks up life.

If you could do one thing you have never done, what would it be? Fly an airplane. When I was about 11 or 12 we went on vacation and went on a seaplane. The pilot gave me control for 17 minutes and it was such a sense of freedom. I’d like to experience that again.