All my life I have had a passion for shaping the next generation of learners. Whether as a schoolteacher, coach, school principal, college professor/administrator or published researcher, I work tirelessly to mentor and guide all students in their educational and personal pursuits. Being a mentor to students is personal to me because my first-grade teacher, Ms. Nancy McDevitt, showed me the joy of teaching and learning. She opened my eyes to the joys of being a life-long learner, and it was Eastern Kentucky University where I learned my self-worth, how to create a sense of place, and to be a voice for educators everywhere.