My professional goal now and in the future is to help adults improve their education and have a positive impact in their lives. I consider changing careers from journalism to education one of my biggest achievements.An important part of this transition was earning the respect of my peers at Forsyth Technical Community College. Teachers often said they could tell which students had taken my class because those students had a better foundation than others. In the middle of this, I also managed caring for both my parents the last few years of their lives. I managed, hired, and scheduled 5-10 caregivers, and handled all finances, etc. - all while working full-time. MY TEACHING APPROACH: Respect, Encouragement, Engaged LearningInstructor/student relationship: I believe respect is especially important. They need someone who can build them up by showing them they ARE capable. Active Learning: Jean Piaget, among other educational theorists, believed that students often remember information and transfer it more effectively when they construct it themselves. I have always believed this, too, and am mindful of this in every lesson I plan – and make it fun!EX: At the college level, I often used newspapers and/or magazines for various applied learning exercises. I also turned the content matter into some type of interactive game.TEACHING PEERS SAY: I care.I sincerely care about my students and want to see them find their worth and realize that they can achieve their goals. From teaching evaluations: “Lessons meet the diverse needs of the learners in the classroom”; “her voice was enthusiastic and inspiring… uses knowledge of effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and interaction in the classroom; thoughtful and creative lessons are consistently planned and presented”Early Career – Related Experience:4 years in public school classroom6 years as a journalist+ experience in career preparation program for K-14 students