Social Studies Super Store

My path to become a teacher was a long road as the education field was a second career for me. I spent nearly six years as a system designer in the nuclear, paper, and environmental industry before becoming a teacher. But even before I returned to school, I always loved government and history. While I lived in Washington State, I was active in a local archaeological society. I worked on local Native American dig sites where we found remains of ancient people who lived along the Columbia River. Also, I was very active in politics. I held chairmanships in the local political party. I participated in campaigns, and served as a field coordinator for a presidential candidate. Later, I ran for public office twice, and was elected once. I learned invaluable experience and understanding of how our government functions with in these many positions. Later, I was the first in my family to graduate from college. In 1998, I graduated from Eastern Washington University with a BA in social Science and Secondary Education. My student teaching experience included rural and large schools. My final student teaching assignment was at Sacajawea Alternative Middle School in Spokane, Washington. Then, before I graduated I accepted a position with the Meridian School District (Now known as West Ada). I taught in the Meridian School District for 14 years, in many different middle and high schools. While with Meridian I served as the head Boys JV soccer coach and Boys assistant soccer coach Centennial High School. During my three years at Centennial, we won districts every year and won state twice. In 2009, I was assigned to work at Cambridge Elementary, Junior/Senior High School. I have taught a verity of social studies classes and created many new classes as well.

Student centered activities based upon Multiple Intelligence and authentic assessments. I believe all students can learn, but I also understand student need the support of parents and family members

James Madison Teaching Scholarship and Fellow-2011 To be chose as a Madison Fellow was a great honor, to study with the our nations best history teachers. VFW Teacher of the year – Cambridge/Midvale-2012-2013 Recognized for working with members of the community and veterans in the area of social studies. Assistant Coach of the Year, District III EWU Alumni Association Student Leadership Award

2014 Western New Mexico University – Masters Degree - Interdisciplinary –History/Political Science. Grand Teton Summer Institute-We The People Civic Education (attendance July 5 – 10, 2009) The Grand Teton Summer Institute is a rigorous professional development program that brings civic educators together to teach methods appropriate to the We the People curriculum. They also participate in a simulated congressional hearing modeled on the We the People culminating activity. This seminar was held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Birmingham Civil Rights Movement Seminar-We The People Civic Education (attendance September 10-13, 2010) Constructional Rights Foundation Summer Institute-(attendance August 8-9, 2011) at UCLA. Madison Fellow Summer Institute 2012 (attendance June-July) This six credit gradate course dealt with the political, constitutional, and legal history of the framing and ratification of the Constitution of the United States. This institute was held at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. We the People: Center for Civic Education State/Regional Seminars State and regional workshops, seminars, and institutes are designed to engage attendees in insightful lectures, thorough discussions of the We the People curriculum, and participation in a simulated congressional hearing as a culminating activity. Imperial Presidency (attendance October 2010) The Summer of 1787: The Making of the Constitution (attendance February 2-5, 2011)

I was born in Walla Walla, Washington (yes, this is a real place). And I was raised in Richland, Washington. I feel my experience as an at risk student makes me a better teacher.