Kate started Irish Dancing as an adult, after her first child was born, as a "break" from mothering full time as well as something to help her get back into shape after being pregnant & giving birth.  She continued dancing through more pregnancies, toddlers, moves, and even homeschooling!  Kate danced as a Champ level dancer, competing both locally as well as at the Western Region Oireachtas, as both a Senior Ladies Soloist and a Ceili Team dancer.  She has five children, all of whom have danced at one point, with three of her children currently actively dancing & competing with Brightburn.  She earned her Master's in School Social Work at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in 2001.  In 2022, she earned her TMRF certification and, since then, has been registered with the CLRG as a certified teacher.  In 2025, she took and passed her TCRG exam in Prague, Czech Republic, and passed on her first try.  Both her dance and life experience help her to instructor both young dancers & adult dancers, alike.