I was raised on a farm 5 miles southwest of Irwin, Iowa and graduated in 1975 from Irwin-Kirkman High School. I attended college at Dana in Blair, Nebraska where I earned a BS degree in Art Education in 1979. I also have a Reading endorsement.  From 1979-81 I taught K-12 Art at Potter, NE. In the early 80's I substitue taught in the Irwin-Kirkman, Manilla and Harlan school districts. I began teaching K-12 Art in 1984 at the Irwin-Kirkman and Manilla schools. I coached Individual Speech Contest students from 1984-2008. I currently teach Preschool-8th Art at IKM-Manning Comm. school. My husband Gary and I live in Irwin. Gary is a driver for ARGEE Heavy Haulers out of Des Moines. In my free time I enjoy art based activities of course as well as gardening and riding with my husband on our Harley. My parents are Hans and Joyce Nielsen of Harlan.