Experience Summary
As of June, 2007, I retired with 30 years experience as a public educator. After earning a BS in Communication Education and Biology, the next sixteen years, I served the state of South Carolina as a coordinator of natural resource education for public and private schools activities and programs to supplement their existing curricula. Since, February, 1997, I served Spartanburg School Dist. Five as a middle school classroom teacher of life and earth science. During my tenure, my students consistently met basic standards for 7th & 8th grade science as required by the S.C. Dept. of Education. Over 80% of my students attained proficient or advanced standing in science as measured by the end-of-year state standards testing program.
Teaching Style
My role in the process of education is to guide students through a systematic methodology designed to create awareness, increase knowledge, and develop skills that enable learners to participate as informed citizens with responsible behaviors within a society. In this process, I consider myself to be a cogent member of a team of individuals including parents, teachers, administrators, and community stakeholders who actively participate in the learning process of individual students. Each participant equally shares the responsibility to ensure students are motivated to perform to their ability, value the process of learning, communicate effectively, and maintain a sense of self-worth through achievement of self-sustained goals.
I believe the formal education of young people should reflect the standards, values, and needs of the community it serves to prepare young persons to become contributing members of a global society.