Homegrown Teacher

Currently, I teach 9th grade ELA and a Tier Reading class at a 3A high school in Kansas. In addition to teaching, which I love, I enjoy coaching. I am also a member of our Building Leadership Team. This includes making decisions with other faculty members regarding in-service, staff meetings, student concerns, etc. I have also presented during our Professional Development Days focusing on the improvement and implementation of effective planning, collaborative learning, and teaching strategies to our teachers. Prior to my current job, I taught middle school, 7th grade, for four years in a diverse school district. During this time, I was really able to grow as a teacher. I learned a lot about myself and how to engage students, which is reflected in my products.

During the past few years, I have learned a lot about effective teaching. My classroom contains a variety of student-centered activities that involve gradual release. Depending on the topic, there may be some explicit instruction but that is coupled with active and collaborative learning activities. Most of my formative and summative assessments are project based. I believe that effective transitions are essential to classroom management and making every moment count! I strive to provide an opportunity for the students to find connections within the curriculum, which helps the students become motivated about their own learning. Students do not only learn the standards that are going to prepare them for the future, they often learn about life or themselves during the process!

• Kansas Master Teacher • Kansas Teacher of the Year Nominee • Graduated Summa Cum Laude • Mary Ann Roberton Award for Best Master’s Project – Bowling Green State University

I graduated with my B.S.E from Emporia State University. I also have a M.Edu from Bowling Green State University and a B.S from Fort Hays State University. I am certified to teach: English 5-8 and 6-12, Physical Education PreK-12, and English for Speakers of Other Languages PreK-12

I have a family and love spending time outdoors!