Her teaching philosophy is captured in two favorite quotes. From Dumbledore: "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." And from Ephesians: "Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits."

Sarah's own story began in Key West, Florida, where she lived until age 13. Growing up in what was then mostly a fishing town, she spent her childhood deep sea fishing, wandering to various hangouts, and generally having a great time. She also traveled extensively through South America and Asia with her parents, who were engaged in pastoral and mission work. Those early experiences shaped her worldview and deepened her appreciation for diverse cultures and histories.

After moving to Boiling Springs, Sarah attended college in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later earned her Master of Arts in history and education from Converse College. She briefly debated between Literature and History but knew History would always win. "Shout out to Literature which tells that story in poetry and prose," she adds with appreciation for the sister discipline.

Today, Sarah is married to Timothy, and together they have four children and one grandchild, Lou. When she's not in the classroom, Sarah finds deep satisfaction in home projects, whether it's a room remake, closet reorganization, or front door replacement. She's always testing out new recipes, too, and is currently on the hunt for a great chocolate cake recipe for Christmas (she's taking recommendations!).

Sarah challenges herself each year to read books in related fields, going directly to the source rather than relying on reviews. She's currently reading Martin Gilbert's Churchill: A Life. "Bringing those details and stories to students is enjoyable and brings energy to the classroom," she says.

But perhaps her favorite pursuit is the epic road trips she and Timothy plan every other summer. These adventures range between 21 and 30 days, beginning in South Carolina and following the backroads in a loop through the American West. They love meeting people in diners, doing a bit of off-roading, and exploring remote areas of stunning beauty. "Hearing the stories of people we would otherwise never meet is just so much fun," Sarah reflects. Their 2025 journey took them 6,600 miles into the Black Hills, the eastern plains of Montana, and the Bighorn Mountains.

It can be challenging to engage students in the nuts and bolts of the U.S. Industrial Revolution, corporations, and unions. Rather than a series of handouts, Sarah's classes start the unit by watching portions of The Men Who Built America and look for the tremendous changes in the United States. They need a place to store the information while tackling the research project in this unit, so she came across the magic foldable made by a teacher for literature and adapted it. Students love making the foldable and seeing the compartments unfold. They watch the teacher instructional video together which makes them laugh and then construct the foldable linked here. Letting it be cheesy and a bit self-deprecating makes it so fun for 8th graders. They don't lose it, which is a major plus, and they add to it as they move through the unit. Between the energetic series and the Magic Foldable, 8th grade loves this unit which is always valuable for engagement and retention of information.