As a teacher, I have a duty to engage, to create romance that can transform apathy into interest, and, if I do my job well, a sort of transference of enthusiasm from me to students takes place. One of the best theories about  teaching I’ve ever encountered comes from one of the multiple theories philosopher A.N. Whitehead. He asserts that the best teachers find a way to teach content while keeping students interested. That learning happens in three stages: romance, precision, and generalization. I strive every day to meet this expectation!

      I am an educator with a wide array of teaching experiences in subject matter, school systems, and diversity of students. In addition to my extensive teaching experience at schools across the country, I have strong verbal, written and administrative skills. My broad background makes me an excellent candidate for this position. Teaching for me is primarily about mentoring and molding students to be the best academic and well-rounded person they can be. Since graduating from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska with a B.A. in English Education and a Minor in Theater, I have loved my work as a Secondary English teacher. In addition to teaching as a mainstream English Educator, I have also been a contracted Special Education Teacher, Speech and Debate Coach, and a Speech/Theater instructor while effectively performing as the sole Director of Theater at Hastings High School from 2000 to 2004 and at Sioux City East High School from 2007 to 2011.

      However, in the spring of 2012, I decided to return to my dream of continuing my formal education and relocated to Lincoln where I worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Office of Academic Affairs and completed a Masters in Arts in the Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education in the summer of 2013. Through my studies and guest lecturing experiences, I have encountered various theories of hospitality in the classroom and how concentrating on the relationship created between peer-to-peer learning and student to instructor learning, a more productive and fulfilling learning experience can be created. My experience as the Supervisor of the Peer Mentoring Program, Transfer Peer Mentor Program, and as an Academic Probation and Academic Coach, has afforded me an appreciation for the administrative aspects of learning and a new appreciation of the many facets of higher education. That combined with my highly intuitive, creative and energetic nature has made me a success in the classroom and in my academic studies.

In 2013 I applied to LPS and have been blessed to teach in this district for over 10 years. Although retirement is in the future, it's not coming anytime soon!