For the past 14 years, I have been the social studies teacher in the Area Learning Center at the River Bend Education District. During this time, I have had the pleasure of designing and implementing my own curriculum to follow the Minnesota Academic Standards. I currently teach the required classes of American History, World History, Human Geography, Government, and Economics; along with the electives, Sociology and Pop Culture. In addition to this, I have been the staff advisor for the student council for the last six years.I have a passion for learning and consider myself a lifelong learner. I feel it is of primary importance in education to enable students to make use of learning as a lifelong skill. I believe that a well-rounded education is vital to a student’s development. A complete education will develop basic skills and provide an aggregate view of academia, relating all subjects to one another. I am passionate that history has proven to be one of the cornerstones in American education; and continues to provide students with guidance, knowledge, and confidence. Properly instructed students can develop their own thoughts, ideas, and opinions thus making them productive members of society.