Experience Summary
In fall 1993, I began my teaching experience in the undergraduate education program at Arizona State University. Upon graduation, I sought and obtained a job as a middle-school teacher. After two years, I moved on to the high school level where I taught until January 2010. In my 13 1/2 years as an educator, I taught traditional, gifted, accelerated, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment courses. My subject knowledge specialties are in rhetoric, composition, poetry, and American literature. Additionally, I have experience in preparing students for Advanced Placement and college entrance exams.
Teaching Style
I value personal discovery: the journey is as important as the destination. In a teaching or tutoring session, I ask as many questions as I answer. Unlike Socrates, I do not ask questions to lead students to a particular answer. Instead, I ask questions to lead my students to answers I don't always know--until we get there, together. A poem, a novel, a historical event--even a math problem: these are just the tools a good teacher--and tutor--uses to get his or her students to think critically. In a world where future careers are uncertain, or haven't yet been imagined, the ability to think critically is the strongest weapon with which we can arm our children.