Through constructivist, project-based curricula, my students have engaged in hands-on and real-world learning. They have advocated for government reforms, designed their own utopian literature classes, planned cities, predicted the future, launched weather balloons into the stratosphere, and more.
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ExperienceSince I graduated from high school in 1991, I have been working with young people. I've spent 24 years in the classroom, designing innovative, student-centered curricula. I have taught literature, composition, humanities, and research in two vocational schools, an innovative project-based charter school, and a progressive independent high school. Three years of teaching at the university level give me insights into preparing high school students for college. When I'm not teaching, I love to travel. I've spent summers driving around the U.S., and backpacking Europe and South America. Before joining The Bay School, I spent five months living in Ecuador, improving my Spanish and traveling in the Andes--all experiences I've enjoyed sharing with my kids.
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PhilosophyCaring about young people and building their capacity to positively impact the world, I strive to teach in a way that reflects my belief in high expectations, rigorous content, student choice, hands-on projects dealing with relevant issues, engaging activities that build student interest, the power of language, a reflective revision process, presentation of student work, and learning as a social activity.
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EducationI completed my undergraduate studies in English Education at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
After adopting Athens as my second hometown, I returned to school and completed my MA in English Language and Literature with an emphasis in writing creative nonfiction.
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CredentialsI am licensed to teach English at all levels in California.
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