Mrs. Birney holds a B.A. degree in English Literature from Fairfield University. While home schooling her seven children, grades K5 through 12, she worked as a news correspondent and feature writer for the Gardner News. She spent three years as a special education paraprofessional in the Winchendon public school system. She is in her 3rd year at Dublin Christian Academy, where she is teaching Kindergarten and Physical Education to students in first through fourth grades.