I love my students, so I demand hard work. As a passionate English teacher with 25+ years spent in classrooms, I’ve been labeled as “tough,” informed that I “push” students. While both of these are true, it’s also true that my students eventually evolve into strong, confident writers regardless of where they begin in my class. I have letters from these students that confirm this, and the preparedness they have as they move on from high school. One former student had this to say: "You emphasized punctuality, following directions, and personal accountability, skills that helped me grow both as a writer and as a person. You helped me build such a solid English foundation, which gives me so much confidence to face college writing going forward." Through my extensive experience in designing curriculum for students from Kindergarten through college, I’ve learned this: “Rigorous expectations create successful learners.” I’m currently teaching high school, AP English Language & Composition, to be exact. I practice Mindfulness in my classroom, train colleagues to use it, and serve as my school district’s consultant. In addition, I’m a trained Social Emotional Learning (SEL) practitioner, an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and a Certified Professional Coach (CPC). In addition to a graduate degree in Education, I’ve earned a law degree that further enhanced my ability to teach brevity in writing. My journey in education has been exciting thus far, and there are more stops on my itinerary as I pivot from a full time classroom teacher to an industry leader. My GPS has led me to Mindfulness Training, SEL, AP Writing Instruction, College Essay Coaching, Thought Leadership, and Motivational Speaking. When searching for meaningful instruction, most people agree that it’s best to seek teachers who are creative, compassionate, and comfortable with their students; I’ve dedicated my life to earning these descriptions. The best way to define who I am as an educator is this mantra: “I teach because it’s fun.” The finest teachers love learning. I’m anxious to leverage all I’ve learned and keep learning the best methods to motivate educators who guide tomorrow’s leaders, train writers who communicate essential truths, and inspire administrators who shape high-quality institutions. In an ever-evolving, technologically-burgeoning world, writing is still the only way that ideas move from heads to paper, from fingers to keyboards, from hearts to actions. I strive to be the catalyst.