Born and raised near Sioux City, Iowa, Paula earned a Bachelor of Science in Education (1974) and a Master of Arts in Special Education (1977) from the University of South Dakota. She is a Certified Educator of the William Glasser Institute of Choice Theory (2007–2012).
Paula taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for 46 years across the United States and Kenya. From 1988–2001 she and Gideon founded and directed a private K–14 school in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2021 she retired to focus fully on St. Joseph's Academy.
"My life has been filled to overflowing with children being a common denominator."