Experience Summary
I have always loved learning. Reading and writing have been two of my primary hobbies since childhood. Still, when I was in elementary and high school, there were times when I felt that the educational system was lacking. I am not alone in this experience, and I have observed countless students flourish with a level of personal and individual care that is unavailable in a standard classroom environment. As a result of my ardor for both teaching and learning, while earning a master of divinity with an emphasis in counseling, I have spent my evenings tutoring professionally. I have earned certifications in math, English grammar, reading and composition, ACT and SAT test preparation, and organizational study skills.
I have had the privilege of working with a large variety of students. I have helped young children learn how to read for the first time, and mentored innumerable high school students in their pursuit of higher scores on the ACT and SAT exams. For the past year and a half, I have worked with adults who are pursuing their GED certifications, or preparing to enter various programs at the Emily Griffith Technical College. As an upper level graduate student, I experienced the joys and frustrations that are part of the educational process. As an instructor, I have used this experience to understand my students' goals and to motivate them toward a level of success that once seemed out of reach.
My experience as a professional instructor has reinforced my belief that people learn in different ways. I am dedicated to providing a degree of personalized instruction that allows people to capitalize on their strengths and to mitigate their weaknesses.
Many teachers state that their favorite part of teaching is watching someone grasp a new concept for the first time, and this truly is a wonderful experience. However, my favorite aspect of teaching is getting to know my students, learning what motivates them, developing a lasting rapport, and building a relationship that allows us to pursue academic excellence as a team. As much as I desire to convey information in clear and relevant ways, I desire to learn alongside my students. My greatest success in teaching is not my students' increased test scores; it is the fact that, because we have built a relationship, they return to tell me about their successes.
During the years that I spent earning two graduate degrees, I have increased my understanding of motivational psychology, and applications for assistive technology within learning environments. My desire is to combine my training in theology, counseling, and education in order to help people grow.