Lay of the Land

About Me

I’m the founder of Spur Us On Services, LLC, which provides mentoring, mental performance coaching, training, and speaking to educational leaders, ministry leaders, and western athletes who are trying to quit second-guessing themselves and stop worrying if they are doing enough. I’m an educator, leader, musician, wife, mother, grandma, auntie, and friend. I’m a southern Illinois girl born to a farmer and married to one, too. I love my horses, travel, piano, and agriculture. Alongside my education career, I am passionate about speaking with women about navigating leadership and life challenges. I am blessed to serve alongside my husband at a rural church. I’m passionate about fitness, both physical and spiritual health, and I love helping women reach their potential on whatever path life takes them - it’s about making the most of the journey, right?!

Philosophy

Life is too short to live without intention. I believe it is vital to be purposeful about the practices we use in the classroom, church, arena and life. To be intentional in our approach to our physical, mental, and spiritual health, and to live a life on purpose. I walk beside leaders, teachers, rural ministry wives, and rodeo athletes through mental performance coaching and professional development, equipping them with the strategies and tools to support them. 

As a leader, I was always worried I wasn’t doing enough, wasn’t effective enough, and was concerned I wasn’t spending enough time with my family…I knew there had to be a better way!

Education & Career

And I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. As a mental performance coach to other leaders and western athletes, I frequently hear, “How do I know if I’m doing enough?” Because of concerns like this, I help leaders walk through this question and come up with answers that work for their leadership and life.

You may be wondering how I can speak to this. For the past thirty-plus years, I have been involved in public school education. I had the privilege of teaching elementary and middle school students for sixteen years. I served as a middle school assistant principal, elementary principal, and district administrator of curriculum, instruction, and assessments for a combined total of seventeen years. During that time, I earned my doctorate in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University. I served as a clinical supervisor of student teachers for a local university. I also mentor new principals, coach principals on mental toughness and school improvement, train instructional coaches, and provide professional development.

I understand the pressure parents face as they support their children in western sports. Our daughter competed in barrels, poles, goats, and was an IJRA princess, representing rodeo wherever she went. Our son competed as a bull rider and overcame a serious injury. And as a mom who finally decided to get back in the arena to barrel race, I understand the fear of injury, fear of other’s opinions, and wondering if I can still compete. It’s another reason I’m so passionate about supporting western athletes.

I am passionate about providing educational leaders, ministry leaders and western athletes with professional development and coaching that makes a practical difference and provides impact. Through my company, Spur Us On Services, LLC, I provide one-on-one, group coaching, and professional development to support leaders in navigating their work without sacrificing their faith and family.

The Meaning Behind Spur Us On Services, LLC

SPUR US ON is inspired by Hebrews 10:24:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

As a horsewoman, I understand something important about a spur:

A spur is not intended to harm.

A skilled rider uses a spur with intention, awareness, and care. Sometimes the horse needs encouragement to move forward through uncertainty. Sometimes it needs support when fear causes hesitation. Sometimes the rider sees danger the horse cannot yet see and moves the horse to safety.

The spur is not punishment.

It is guidance.
It is communication.
It is encouragement forward.

Coaching often works the same way.

Growth can feel uncomfortable at first:

• naming hard truths

• confronting limiting beliefs

• setting boundaries

• changing leadership patterns

• learning emotional regulation

• releasing survival-mode leadership

But discomfort is not always cruel.

Sometimes discomfort is evidence of growth.
Sometimes it is the beginning of courage.
Sometimes it is the moment a leader realizes they are capable of more than they believed.

SPUR US ON was created to help educational leaders, ministry leaders, and westerern athletes move:

• from survival to sustainability

• from reactivity to intentional leadership

• from isolation to connection

• from exhaustion to resilience

• from self-protection to self-awareness

This coaching framework integrates:

• neuroscience-informed leadership

• emotional resilience

• mental performance coaching

• ICF-aligned coaching principles

• reflective growth practices

because leadership is not simply about working harder.

It is about learning how to lead with awareness, courage, regulation, wisdom, and sustainability.

Just as a skilled rider supports and guides a horse forward with care, coaching creates intentional moments of awareness and challenge that help leaders grow into the next version of themselves.

The goal is never perfection.

The goal is sustainable, emotionally healthy, courageous leadership.

And sometimes, we all need someone to spur us on.