Professional Experience

1992 to present: Anchor, WINK News.

Awards & Recognition

I've been honored with much recognition, including the "Best News Anchor" in Southwest Florida, the Phi Delta Kappa Lay Person of the Year, the Quill Pen Award from the Florida Association of School Administrators, a "Woman in History" from the American Business Women's Association, the Library Advocate of the Year by the Southwest Florida Library Network and was voted one of the top Women of the Year by Gulf Shore Life Magazine.

News Philosophy

A news organization plays a very important role in society, providing vital information in times of emergency and keeping a close watch on the powerful while, at all times, being fair and accurate.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Service

For more than 15 years I've volunteered as a committee member for the Southwest Florida Reading Festival, helped raise millions of dollars worth of food for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, served on the local board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and volunteered in area schools by reading to children and mentoring students.

Education

University of Wisconsin.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

There are so many things to love about Southwest Florida. The people, the beaches the sunsets. But if I had to chose one, it would be the weather. We are the envy of much of the country, most of the year, and that's pretty special.

Hometown

St. Anna, Wis.

Family

Husband, John; son, Nicholas; daughter, Isabella.

Farmacy food. (Ivanhoe Newswire photo)

Medicine from the farm alleviates symptoms in children and adults

We all know the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But what if you can’t afford the apple … or any other vegetable? One in four American children regularly goes hungry. So, one San Francisco hospital developed an innovative program. Monika Russi is always on the prowl for ways to keep her […]

Mom checks in with her children as they are doing homework. (Ivanhoe Newswire photo)

Parental involvement: how much is too much?

Since day one, parents have always been told parental involvement is the key to their child’s academic success. But is there a point where being involved is more of a hindrance than help? A study from Duke University and the University of Texas at Austin details the best ways to help your child thrive in […]

A woman listens to music while traffic sounds permeate in the air. (Ivanhoe Newswire photo)

Loud noise increases the risk of having a heart attack

You probably know that smoking, obesity, and not exercising can lead to heart disease. But researchers have uncovered a new risk factor, and you might want to turn your TV volume down after you see this report. Could loud noises make you more likely to have a heart attack? A new study found exposure to […]

Patient undergoing medical treatment. Photo via Ivanhoe Newswire.

Spreading the “Wonder” Message: Choose Kind

The movie and book “Wonder” follow Augie, a ten-year-old boy with facial deformities as he goes to school for the first time and meets new people. Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix launched a “Wonder” outreach program that puts teenagers with conditions like Augie’s in classrooms. Students learn and ask questions about craniofacial disorders from people […]

Gtramp is taking off. Photo via Ivanhoe Newswire.

Gtramp explodes on social media with jaw-dropping acrobatics

Do you know what Gtramp is? If you haven’t heard of it by now, you probably will soon because it’s hard to take your eyes off it! Gtramp stands for “garden trampoline” and it’s exploding on social media. But this isn’t your typical kiddy jump and bouce stuff. It involves teens pulling off jaw-dropping acrobatics […]

Social learning approach. Photo via Ivanhoe Newswire.

Study: Parenting strategies to improve behavior benefit older kids

You might have heard that to raise a child, you need to “nip” bad behavior in the bud early. But a new study shows that’s not necessarily the case. Is earlier always better when it comes to helping your child with their behavior? New research suggests maybe not! A team of researchers looked at data […]

A mother reads with her children. A daughter plays an instrument as her father looks upon. Photo via Ivanhoe Newswire.

Do parents play favorites?

If you’re a parent you’ve heard it before — when one of your kids gets something from you — money or a present, even a Slurpee from 7-Eleven, your other child immediately wants to know “where’s mine?” As parents, of course, we always treat all of our kids equally, right? Or do we? Of course as parents […]

Local school districts are trying to head off a hiring crisis

NAPLES, Fla.- Southwest Florida school districts are facing a teacher hiring crisis with hundreds of openings and few people available to fill them. The situation has grown so dire, representatives from local schools are travelling thousands of miles, looking for recent graduates who are willing to make the move to Florida for their first teaching job. Ian Dean, executive […]

Reading

Testing the Limits: Paying for school growth

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – The recession is over and Southwest Florida’s population is growing again. One trip in your car or one visit to a local restaurant is enough to prove that the economy is churning along. But with that growth comes tremendous challenges for local schools. WINK News spoke with Dr. Greg Adkins, Superintendent […]