Experience Summary
I graduated from Augustana College with a BA in Math/Computer Science and Education and Northwestern University with and MBA in Marketing and Policy and Environment. While my initial jobs were with corporations in systems, marketing, and planning, I found I used my teaching skills on a daily basis by applying mathematics and computers, doing research and writing reports, organizing and preparing plans, teaching individuals and groups, making presentations, conducting reviews, and continuing to improve my personal and technical skills. Ten years ago, I decided to become a full-time teacher and went back to school to obtain my teaching certificate in Secondary Mathematics. While working on the certificate, I worked as a teacher's aide in elementary Math and Computer Science. During the past four years, I have taught and/or tutored high school, college, and adult students in Math, Physics, and Microsoft Office.
Teaching Style
I come from a family of teachers and have always felt that teaching was one of the most important professions because it can have such a positive effect on the lives of others. I began tutoring students in math when I was in high school and found that my patience, easy-going nature, and ability to explain complex topics in simple terms made me a natural teacher. Regardless of the age or ability of my students, I have always enjoyed getting to know them as individuals, finding ways to motivate them, discovering their learning styles, and teaching them what they personally need learn in math, physics, or computer applications. When I teach, I like to make the subject more interesting by integrating it with other subject areas, practical applications, and my students' personal areas of interest (from the arts and science to baseball). I find great joy in seeing a student understanding a new concept for the first time, getting a good grade on a test, and gaining confidence to learn more in a complex subject area. Most of all, I enjoy making a difference in my students' lives and encouraging them to become life-long learners.