Getting Down with Science

I have several years of experience teaching in both public and private high school settings. I have taught a variety of science subjects (anatomy, environmental science, AP biology, and sports medicine) and have tutored in science at all grade levels. Prior to teaching, I worked as a scientific researcher in laboratories at both the college and professional level. One of the highlights of my time as a researcher was when I worked at City of Hope, a renowned cancer treatment and research facility. My focus as a researcher was on immunology and cancer therapy. Part of my responsibilities as a researcher included training students and new workers in laboratory techniques and teaching them background information on our studies. I found myself the most passionate and happy while I was teaching others. So, as much as I loved working in labs, I decided to obtain my Masters in Science Education and pursue teaching as a career. I have always been passionate about science and love to share my passion and my experience in labs with my students.

I teach using a variety of different modalities. I love mixing things up each class by incorporating hands on activities, videos, question sets, and/or games. Students learn in a variety of ways, so classes should accommodate for different learning styles. I try to pack as much detail into each lesson as I can so students are actively engaged throughout the entire class. My hope is to inspire curiosity in my learners and provoke critical thinking. I tell my students to question everything around them.

During my undergraduate career, I was honored to present my senior thesis at the Southern California Academy of Sciences annual meeting. I also had the pleasure of working with a team of scientists in a cancer research lab. Our work was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Master's in Teaching Secondary Science from the University of Southern California. Bachelor's in Biology with a focus in Pre-Medicine/Health from the University of La Verne. I attend yearly AP Biology summer institutes for professional development and to keep up to date with changes to the AP exam.

Current AP teacher, science enthusiast, dog lover, and coffee addict.