Creating opportunities for individuals to learn and showcase their best talents is my goal everyday I arrive at work. Whether it be creating test items, teaching special needs children in the high school classroom, or teaching history at the college level, I always strive to bring the best out of people. In the past five years of writing test items for assessments in the North Carolina school system I have worked on a broad range of projects. I have written items for elementary school students up through advanced high school social studies classes. During this time I have also worked in a Special Needs classrooms at Westfield High School and Needham High School, working with a wide range of students with physical and intellectual disabilities. This work requires patience and nurturing as well as a determination to push my students to achieve the most that they are capable of. I have also taught college-level courses as both a Teaching Assistant at NC State and as an adjunct at Ivy Tech Community College. At all levels I have had to adapt and push myself to find creative solutions to the educational needs of my students. I enjoy the challenges that these diverse experiences have presented and am always looking for a fresh, new approach to overcoming obstacles.