Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, I attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where I received Bachelor’s Degrees in Business/Marketing and English. Past work experiences include sales and marketing positions in fields ranging from apparel design to professional sports to cellular phone communications. I currently am self-employed as a free-lance writer and run my own business,
Destination: Education, which promotes and develops educational travel experiences for students of all ages.

Having always possessed a passion for education, I pursued and earned a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1999. I worked at Mission Trail Elementary School as a literary paraprofessional, helping students of all ages develop a love for reading. I have worked extensively at the school and district level within Blue Valley:

• Curriculum and Instruction Committee
• Continuum Committee
• Mission Trail Site Based Leadership Chairman
• Mission Trail and Leawood Middle School PTOs
• Blue Valley Legislative Liaison
• Blue Valley Educational Foundation Board Member
• Blue Valley North Parent Booster Club President
• Blue Valley North Parent Volunteer of the Year 2010

Voluntarism and community leadership are values I hold very dear. I have strived to serve my community in a variety of ways:

• Junior League of Kansas City, MO – Board member, Director of Community Projects
• Literacy Kansas City – Board member and President
• Waterford Homes Association Board Member
• Science City Gala/Union Station Restoration
• American Red Cross Emergency Phone Bank
• Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault
• American Cancer Society
• Hope Center after school meals
• Boy Scouts of America - Cub Scout Leader and Merit Badge Counselor
• Harvesters’ Food Bank
• Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club – Night Group President
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Team in Training
• MainStream Coalition
  

I have been married for 25 years to Robert Chapline and we have spent 16 wonderful years raising our two sons, Tom and Mark, right here in District 28, Leawood, Kansas.