Michele is originally from Colorado and came to Oregon the long way around the country. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in southern Minnesota with a BA in German and then went for a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She and her family (husband and two children) left Minnesota soon after and moved aboard a sailboat in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and sailed the East Coast, living aboard their 42 foot Albin Nimbus for 7 years. She went back to school for a BS in Nursing when they were living in Charleston, SC, and as she worked as a 4K teacher in the Charleston Schools. Michele has been a nurse for 13 years, always working with children and their families. After making the move to Bend in 2013, she’s been working with Deschutes County as a Nurse Case Manager for children with special health care needs and supporting the entire family get needs met. Now with two adult children still in the home because rent in Central Oregon is crazy, one of whom receives services from FAHD, she and her husband and 13 year old Giant Schnauzer are spending more time camping and skiing and enjoying high desert life. Michele loves to read, play cards, and do the crossword puzzle in the Bulletin.