Erika was born in Kansas, and while she has lived in many different states, Colorado is her favorite. After leaving high school, she spent 5 years in the United States Marine Corps before attending the University of Colorado Denver. She received her Montessori Diploma from Authentic Institute of Montessori in 2020 and is currently completing her Montessori Lower Elementary Certification at Montessori Education Center of The Rockies. Erika is a mother of three children ages 1.5, 4, and 5, and she is motivated by them to be the best mother and teacher she can be. She is very passionate about Montessori, and she sees the beauty of it at home as well as at school every day. When she isn't in the classroom, she is with her children, hiking, working in their garden, or reading. She is a parishioner at Holy Protection of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church.