Currently, I am teaching U.S. History to eighth grade students in a public middle school in Yorba Linda, California. I have thirty years of experience teaching students from grade seven through twelve. Over those years, I have been recognized twice for my professional commitment to teaching and for developing meaningful academic relationships with both my students and fellow staff members. I am further recognized for my traditional methods of instruction, including direct instruction, for challenging my students to stretch themselves and understand the significance of history across the disciplines and for my ability to ask rigorous questions to build students understanding in depth of the history they are learning. Over the past several years, I have increasingly designed lessons, essays, and assessments around primary source documents from the colonial period of U.S. History through the end of the nineteenth century. Over a 10 year period (ending in 2019) I had worked with the National History Day organization to teach my students how to research historical topics addressing an assigned theme and present their findings through the use of exhibits, the creation of websites and documentary movies, and the writing of extensive essays. In addition to my continual efforts to improve my teaching, I have been increasingly called upon to serve my school as the Department Chair/Lead Teacher in the History Social Science Dept., AVID Coordinator and teacher, GATE Coordinator, Honor Society Adviser, and after school Homework Help host. In this capacity, I have been instrumental in addressing the issue of academic integrity. I am recognized for my willingness as a member of the faculty to be among the first to assist when needed and to continually broaden my knowledge and understanding of the social sciences and education in general. In particular, I read historical, philosophical, political, and religious books as well as professional development articles.
Listed skills include Teaching, Classroom, Leadership, Curriculum Development, and 15 others.