Experience Summary
I am foremost a writer whose 38-year, award-winning career is rooted in journalism. However, I also have an extensive teaching background. I have taught writing labs at St. Thomas University – Miami, Florida (1987-88), Mississippi State University (1988-89) and Texas A&M University (1989-93); and I currently offer tutoring services to 10th- and 11th-grade foreign exchange students from all over the world.
Some of my tutoring involves preparing students to take the college-entrance SAT. I am particularly qualified to do this from a writing perspective, because the College Board contracts me each year to assess the essays students submit as part of their SAT testing.
In a similar fashion, Pearson Education, Inc. employs me each year to assess essays that students -- grades 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 – submit as part of standardized testing in the states of Arizona, California, Texas and West Virginia. Pearson retains my services largely due to my not only having taught composition at the college level, but also at the fifth- through eighth-grade levels.
As for my accolades as a writer, they include a Katie Award and three “Council for Advancement and Support of Education” awards. I have been published in newspapers and magazines throughout the country, and have crafted stories for several websites. My syndicated column, “Lone Star Legends,” has appeared in 48 Texas newspapers. Additionally, I have worked as a journalist in radio and television broadcast (most recently with CSPAN).
Teaching Style
I advocate a "hands-on" approach that affords students an opportunity to feel as if they are teaching themselves and I am there only to facilitate the process.
My Hobbies
I play the drums and listen to music throughout the world. I also love to travel and have flown as far as Poland to see a live musical performance.
Other Comments
I love to learn and get as much from my students as they get from me.
| Type |
Level |
Year |
Title |
Issued By |
| Degree |
Bachelors |
1982 |
Journalism |
The University of Oklahoma |
| Degree |
Masters |
1989 |
Sports Marketing |
St. Thomas University (Miami, Fl... |
| Award |
Column-writing (circulation 500,... |
1984 |
Katie Award |
Dallas Press Club |
| Award |
Most Outstanding |
1992 |
CASE Award for Science Writing |
Council for Advancement and Supp... |
| Award |
Most Outstanding |
1993 |
CASE Award for Feature Writing, ... |
Council for Advancement and Supp... |
| Award |
Most Outstanding |
1993 |
CASE Award for Spot Coverage |
Council for Advancement and Supp... |
| Award |
Distinguished Service |
1993 |
MHA Texas Service Award |
Mental Health Association in Texas |
| Composition |
 This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| My award-winning writing career spans 38 years. Accolades include a Katie Award and three “Council for Advancement and Support of Education” awards. I have been published in national newspapers and magazines, as well as on-line. My syndicated column, “Lone Star Legends,” has appeared in 48 newspapers throughout Texas. Additionally, I have worked as a journalist in radio and television broadcast (most recently with CSPAN).
Teaching experience includes having supervised writing labs at St. Thomas University -- Miami, Fla. (1987-88), Mississippi State University (1988-89) and Texas A&M University (1989-93). I have also taught composition at the fifth through eighth grade levels and currently tutor 10th and 11th grade foreign exchange students in all areas related to writing.
Additionally, the College Board contracts me each year to assess essays students submit as part of their SAT testing. In a similar fashion, Pearson Education, Inc. employs me each year to assess essays students -- grades 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 – submit as part of standardized testing in the states of Arizona, California, Texas and West Virginia. |
| Creative Writing |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Although the bulk of my career has involved writing as a journalist, I have -- from time to time -- ventured into fiction and feel perfectly comfortable tutoring in that subject area as well. |
| English |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| As one whose combination writing and teaching career spans 38 years, I have evolved an advanced expertise in English, which proves essential as I tutor ESL foreign exchange students from all over the world. |
| Grammar |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| As one whose combination writing and teaching career spans 38 years, I have evolved an advanced expertise in grammar. |
| Journalism |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| My award-winning writing career spans 38 years. Accolades include a Katie Award and three “Council for Advancement and Support of Education” awards. I have been published in national newspapers and magazines, as well as on-line. My syndicated column, “Lone Star Legends,” has appeared in 48 newspapers throughout Texas. Additionally, I have worked as a journalist in radio and television broadcast (most recently with CSPAN). Teaching experience includes having supervised writing labs at St. Thomas University -- Miami, Fla. (1987-88), Mississippi State University (1988-89) and Texas A&M University (1989-93). I have also taught composition at the fifth through eighth grade levels and currently tutor 10th and 11th grade foreign exchange students in all areas related to writing. Additionally, the College Board contracts me each year to assess essays students submit as part of their SAT testing. In a similar fashion, Pearson Education, Inc. employs me each year to assess essays students -- grades 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 – submit as part of standardized testing in the states of Arizona, California, Texas and West Virginia. |
| Language Arts |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| As a writer/teacher whose career spans 38 years, I offer advanced expertise in literature and a fundamental understanding of linguistics. |
| Literature |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| A solid literary foundation facilitates my 38-year career as a teacher who continues to earn most of his living as a writer. |
| Poetry |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| I am particularly adept at teaching Shakespeare. |
| Reading |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| As a tutor of 10th- and 11th-grade foreign exchange students, I have found that advancing their reading comprehension skills serves as a prelude to massaging their competency in writing. I am also hired each year by Pearson Education, Inc. to assess the reading comprehension skills of fifth graders taking the Ohio Achievement Assessment (OAA test). |
| Reading Comprehension |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| As a tutor of 10th- and 11th-grade foreign exchange students, I have found that advancing their reading and reading comprehension skills serves as a prelude to massaging their competency in writing. I am also hired each year by Pearson Education, Inc. to assess the reading comprehension skills of fifth graders taking the Ohio Achievement Assessment (OAA test). |
| Shakespeare |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| In an Independent Study course taken at the post-graduate level, I focused exclusively on the works of William Shakespeare. |
| Spelling |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| As a journalist who routinely faces deadlines that loom only five minutes away, I have never had the luxury of casually running a spell-check or referencing a dictionary. Internalizing the correct spelling of countless words serves as an indispensable skill in my profession. And for what it's worth, I know the tricks needed to assume spelling mastery, which I suppose accounts for my having advanced to regional spelling-bee competition as a youth. |
| Writing |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| My award-winning writing career spans 38 years. Accolades include a Katie Award and three “Council for Advancement and Support of Education” awards. I have been published in national newspapers and magazines, as well as on-line. My syndicated column, “Lone Star Legends,” has appeared in 48 newspapers throughout Texas. Additionally, I have worked as a journalist in radio and television broadcast (most recently with CSPAN). Teaching experience includes having supervised writing labs at St. Thomas University -- Miami, Fla. (1987-88), Mississippi State University (1988-89) and Texas A&M University (1989-93). I have also taught composition at the fifth through eighth grade levels and currently tutor 10th and 11th grade foreign exchange students in all areas related to writing. Additionally, the College Board contracts me each year to assess essays students submit as part of their SAT testing. In a similar fashion, Pearson Education, Inc. employs me each year to assess essays students -- grades 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 – submit as part of standardized testing in the states of Arizona, California, Texas and West Virginia. |