Experience Summary
I have been a special education teacher in the Apache Junction Unified School District since August 2008 where I began as an inclusion teacher at Thunder Mountain Middle School as an emergency certified special education teacher. In order to maintain my job, I got my master's degree in Cross-Categorical Special Education. I have taught in a self-contained classroom, a resource language arts classroom as well as a co-teacher in Language Arts and Science. I have written many Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and have made sure that students in special education receive the services specified in the IEP. Currently I am a district representative in AJUSD and continue to carry out duties involving student services in special education. As a language arts teacher, I have taught composition, creative writing, reading comprehension of both literary and informational texts, poetry to include Shakespeare, grammar, sentence structure, and other English language concepts. I have been the teacher of record for the students assigned to my resource classes and have communicated with parents concerning the progress of their sons or daughters.
Teaching Style
I believe in creating routines to add structure to the learning environment as most of my students progress better in a very structure classroom. I have been noted in my evaluations as making solid connections with most of my students by taking a personal interest in their academic progress. While I do not believe in extrinsic rewards, I will use them to motivate students when necessary. I am organized and pride myself in being able to stick to the lesson plans I have devised.
My Hobbies
I am a writer and I play guitar. Most recently I performed at the Flagstaff Folk Festival in 2014 and am scheduled to play this year at the end of June. I kept my guitar in my classroom this year and enjoy a wide range of music. I like to work out and stay in shape.
Other Comments
I have been married for 20 years to Amy and have two children, Skylar who is 20 and lives on his own and my daughter Tegan age 14 who we adopted from China in 2001. We have four spoiled cats and three spoiled dogs. We moved from Alaska in 2005 after spending ten years there. We have been in Arizona since 2005.
| Composition |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Taught composition as student teacher and in the seven years as a certified teacher in Arizona. |
| Creative Writing |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Taught creative writing and have published some of my own poetry and short stories. Currently working to put creative works online. |
| English |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| As a resource teacher, I teach from the basics all the way to the more sophisticated concepts in junior high. |
| Grammar |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Taught grammar for seven years in a special and general education classroom. |
| Language Arts |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Certified language arts teacher in the state of Arizona, grades 7-12. |
| Literature |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Taught literature for seven years and have a wide base of knowledge in the area. |
| Poetry |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Have wide experience in poetry and have published a couple of personal poems in small literary presses. |
| Reading |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I am an avid reader and have worked with students who are in special education to become readers. |
| Reading Comprehension |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Have worked with students in special education in reading comprehension for past seven years. |
| Shakespeare |
Proficiency: I know the basics
|
| Took Shakespeare in college and have studied some of his writing over the years. Have not formally taught Shakespeare, but have explored a couple of his sonnets in my class. |
| Spelling |
Proficiency: I know the basics
|
| Brief experience in teaching spelling at one of the elementary schools and practice good spelling strategies with my students. |
| Writing |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| An active writer as well as teacher in writing for seven years. |