APUSH4U

I have taught since 1998; AP US History Teacher; Presenter for Georgia Department of Education AP Regional Workshops; Student Council Adviser

Engagement, not entertainment, is the secret to my success. I achieve this through careful implementation of differentiated lessons and a healthy dose of Calvin & Hobbes. I teach Advanced Placement US History; there is only so much leeway I have to deviate from a Socratic delivery and still prepare my students for the AP Exam as well as college. The APUSH curriculum specifically focuses on student analysis. Overwhelming majority of the exam is derived from primary and secondary sources, from multiple choice questions, the short answer responses and the DBQ essay. The quality of their writing, and understanding how to analyze, directly affects their success on the exam and for college. My approach to teaching derives from my love for learning and the comic Calvin & Hobbes, and sharing that passion is fulfilling on a whole new level. I love being a part of student’s learning process. Consequently, the lesson’s I construct are designed with genuine learning in mind. My approach to education is GOAL: Get Obvious about Learning. My students are not all naturally passionate about history, but they are passionate about success. This is where I start. Via comics speaking about history on my slides to a story that hooks their interest, I draw students into the content by inviting them to enjoy story time as they once did when they were little. The assessments actually teach them how to analyze and write as I provide dynamic feedback, explicitly identifying what skills they demonstrate successfully or failed to do.

Cambridge Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women in Teaching & Education; Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers; Teacher of the Year Finalist; College Board Cohort and Georgia Board of Education to facilitate implementation of new AP US History assessment

I have and Ed.S in leadership, and have focused my education on refining my content knowledge in history, specifically US History, as well as gifted education and instructional technology.

Loves: To win. Anything. Everything. I hate to lose. Favorite Book: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and everything Calvin & Hobbes. I seriously cry every time I read either of these. Hidden Talent: Patience. I’m a mother, wife, teacher, sister, daughter and dog owner. Patience is a necessity of survival. If you’re looking for an uncompromised work ethic and passion for student learning, a person dedicated to not boring herself much less her students, a teacher who truly understands learning doesn’t occur with a textbook and memorization of vocabulary, I'm your gal; my lessons reflect my philosophy of total student engagement, not entertainment, for maximum learning. In addition, I am highly competitive and love to cook. I make an unbelievable chicken tortilla soup that avocados beg to bathe in and I won’t even begin to talk about the tears of joy shed when you melt into one of my monster cookies, a dreamy combination of love, chocolate, and sugar. Having a rough day? I’m you’re comfort food go to. And you cannot beat my Frito Pie, a cheese topped spicy chili with Frito chips. Yes, Frito’s, and it’s amazing. Seems like a win-win-win for everyone involved.