I am an English teacher in the state of Michigan, and I am in my eighteenth year in the classroom. I have taught grades 8-12, included Advanced Placement English Literature, and Advanced Placement Composition Courses. I currently serve as the English Department Chairperson.
My favorite things about teaching English include: British Literature, Transcendentalist authors such as Thoreau and Emerson, Modernist authors such as Hemingway and Steinbeck, teaching Advanced-Placement (AP) English courses, and of course, Shakespeare. My true passion lies in teaching college-level courses, and secondary English Literature to high school upperclassmen.
The Saginaw News named me a finalist for their "Diamond Award" in teaching in 2008. I have also been professionally published with the University of Kansas two times.
I am a proud graduate of Grand Valley State University (Bachelor of Arts/BA- History/English), and a 2012 honors graduate of Michigan State University (Master of Arts in Education/MAEd.- English Literacy/Educational Technology). I was also an opinion and editorial writer for The State News - the largest college newspaper in the nation.
When I am not teaching, I am probably fostering one of my many obsessions with nature. I am an avid wilderness photographer, bow-hunter, fly-fisher, backpacker, snow-shoer, gardener, and canoeing enthusiast. I am absolutely in love with the state of Michigan, and I am constantly finding new things to enjoy about the outdoors. I am a frequent visitor to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and I especially enjoy the south shore of Lake Superior.
6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, Higher Education, Adult Education, Homeschool, Staff, Not Grade Specific
English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Specialty, Science, Environment, Other (Science), Social Studies, U.S. History, Arts & Music, Visual Arts, Other (Art), Drama, Career and Technical Education, Other (Specialty), ELA Test Prep, Other (Social Studies), Other (ELA), For All Subjects, Literature, Psychology, General Science, Library Skills, Short Stories, Writing, Reading Strategies, Writing-Essays, Holidays/Seasonal, Christmas-Chanukah-Kwanzaa, Poetry, For All Subjects, Informational Text, End of Year, Close Reading