Experience Summary
I have been teaching/tutoring students in life science for over 20 years, but it all started with my BA from UC Berkeley in Integrative Biology. At Berkeley I tutored/taught part-time as a Lab Teacher at Berkeley Community College, a study group leader at UC Berkeley student learning center, and a Kaplan MCAT tutor. I then earned my MA in Zoology (with a thesis in molecular evolution from University of South Florida) and mentored/taught College Freshmen Biology and worked in immunology at the Cancer Research Center. I moved back to the Bay Area and worked at Biotech companies including Genentech, and Amgen. In 2013 I earned my Biology and Chemistry California Teacher Credential from CSUEB, and now have been a full-time life-science teacher for 5 years for grades 7-12 in public, private, and specialized education schools. I have taught middle-school life-science, Biology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Anatomy/Physiology, and Botany, but AP Biology is always my favorite subject. I am Currently the Life-Sciences Department Chair at my school.
Teaching Style
I have worked with a huge diversity of students and I find that students remember, relate, connect and understand metaphors, examples, and models best. So I tell my students stories about what they see in the world around them, relating lessons to the news, and showing examples that are so cool they cannot be forgotten! I love tutoring because my specialty is identifying the source of confusion a student might have in a given lesson and using my knowledge and experience to explain the science in a different way. This can include directing the students to a particular on-line resource and/or tool that can help them study outside of our tutoring time, which can save a dedicated student money in the long-run.
My Hobbies
I love comics and have used them successfully in my science classroom and have presented them at large Comic-Cons. I also SCUBA dive (I was a research diver), and have been coaching renaissance-style fencing to students ages 12-65 for at least 10 years.
Other Comments
My passion is for Biology. I love Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics too, but it always comes back to Biology for me. If you are around me, you will learn about Biology... whether you want to or not!
| Anatomy |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Human cadaver classes are spooky, but extremely helpful! I apply my experience from those to my philosophy of "know thy self" and "form and function" to make Anatomy relevant and memorable to my students. The side-effect is an A! |
| Bio Chemistry |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| 7 years in oncology research and the BioTech industry has given me hands-on experience in biochemistry. But anyone can google names, it takes a savvy student to understand the why and how, and the savvy student gets the A! |
| Biology |
 This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Biology is my passion, in all fields. I ooze teaching about it blending current events and cutting-edge research with the basics taught in high school. I have a California Teacher's credential in the subject, I am up on the new Science Standards, and look forward to having my own class next year. I also LOVE AP Biology and SAT! |
| Genetics |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Genetics is one of our most exciting fields and I have had the pleasure of working with local BioTech companies on cutting-edge research in the area. The possibilities are endless, and the deeper you go, the more complicated it gets. For example, if the conditions are just right, you CAN have a brown-eyed child from two blue-eyed parents! It's true... look it up! Allow me to lead you through this exciting world and you might learn a little bit of family history as you go! |
| Life Science |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Biology is the study of life and you are alive (unless you are a zombie). Allow me to be your guide as we learn about you and the wonderful world around you! |
| Marine Biology |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| We live in one of the greatest places on earth and amazing technology in hand to study Marine Biology. Allow me to take you through my class on Marine Biology using videos and interactive technology through local aquariums and research projects. I also have stories of my personal research experiences that will illustrate essential concepts in a way you will never forget! |
| MCAT |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Taking a standardized test requires a special set of skills in itself, so it is no surprise that many individuals (myself included) have spend countless hours dissecting and conquering them. Allow me to share with you some of the tips and tricks I learned as an MCAT tutor. |
| Physiology |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Living things... well... LIVE, and just how we do that is wrapped up in our physiology. I apply the philosophy of "know thy self" and "form and function" so that we can understand our bodies, which is rather important since we will be living with our bodies for the rest of our lives! |