Hello! Welcome to my classroom!! I currently teach Visual Art 1, Visual Art 2, Ceramics 1, and Ceramics 2 at Ohio County High School. I have followed a long and winding road to the place where I am today. At the age of 17 I chose to study Sports Medicine. Two years into a physical therapy/sports medicine emphasis program I decided physical therapy wasn't the direction I wanted to go. After several different jobs, a few changes in my major, a marriage, a child, and another on the way, I finally graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelors degree in Studio Art and Psychology. I worked as a Family Counselor and a Child and Adolescent Recreational/Art Therapist until returning to school to get my Masters degree in Teaching. I am certified to teach Art k-12 and Psychology 8-12 and have taught Humanities, Visual Art 1, Visual Art 2, Introduction to 3D Art, Painting, Ceramics 1, Ceramics 2, Ceramics 3, and AP Studio Art here at OCHS. I love my job and I can not say enough positive things about my students. Ohio County High School students are the reason I have stayed in Ohio County longer than any other place I have lived!

I was born in Tucson Arizona. I moved to Denver Colorado when I was five and then to Vincennes Indiana when I was seventeen. I lived in Vincennes, Indianapolis, and Evansville Indiana until moving to northern Kentucky in 2001. I have been in Ohio County with my husband and children since 2002.

I have been married to my best friend, Kent Maikranz (who is also a teacher at OCHS), since September of 1993. We have two wonderfully made children; Noah and Madi. They are now both adults and finding their places in this world. We have three dogs and a cat that Madi left with us when she went off to school that keep us company when we are at home....which is not often.

Kent and I also coach Cross Country and Track and Field at OCHS which keeps us extremely busy! I didn't go into teaching to coach but I am so happy I have been given the opportunity to meld my first love of sports medicine/exercise science with my current love of teaching. 

I am so blessed to have a career that encompasses all of my passions...art/creating, psychology, and exercise science.

I believe education is about so much more than content, grades, and scores. It is about exploring who you are and your place in the world around you. It is about becoming a well-rounded, productive, member of society and finding your passion! My goal is to have each one of my students come away from my class with an increased sense of self-awareness, an awareness of the world around them, an understanding of the importance of creating, a desire to find their passion, and the courage to make a difference.