A Little Bit about Me
I have completed an associate degree from Oakland Community College and received a Bachelor of Science in Education with minors in Social Science and Science from Western Michigan University. I have taken advantage of the opportunity to further my education and receive a third minor teaching endorsement in English from Western Michigan University, as well as completing a Master’s in Educational Technology from Michigan State University. I have also started a second Master's in Special Education with an endorsement in Learning Disabilities. I taught at Northwest Community School District, in Jackson, Michigan, for fifteen years. During my tenure, I faced the challenge of changing my teaching schedule every year (both in subject and in grade level) due to my multiple certifications. I have taught six of the twelve core classes and a developmental reading class, called Read 180, in the middle school. I jump at any opportunity for professional development, especially those dealing in technology and diversifying lesson plans to reach all learners. Some of the professional development opportunities that I have attended have included taking graduate curriculum development classes through Spring Arbor University, becoming a Why Try certified teacher and attending mathematics workshops. Because of these opportunities, I have developed a better understanding of the curriculum and how to incorporate cross-curricular activities into the classroom. In addition to taking classes, I have served as a presenter on the topics of Attention Deficit Disorder and what to expect during the first years of teaching.
The traditional learning environment has always been difficult for me due to having Attention Deficit Disorder. Despite this challenge, I became a successful student by finding different strategies that fit my learning style and abilities. I believe that I am a better teacher because of my learning differences, and have had the opportunity to teach and mentor students with the same or similar challenges. In fact, the administration at the middle school consistently placed students who have difficulty learning into my classroom. I have helped some become confident in their abilities by teaching them that just because they learn differently does not mean that they are not smart. Some students simply needed to be exposed to different learning strategies. Others required that I take a firm hand and hold them accountable for their own education and success, but with the appropriate support.
Lifelong learning is something that I have always valued, and I try to continue to take advantage of. I have always had a passionate interest in helping struggling students. I know that different modalities are necessary to teach effectively, and in order to compete with video games and iPods, it is important for the classroom teacher to incorporate engaging activities to keep students’ attention. This is even more important with students whose learning difficulties make it hard for them to focus for any length of time. By utilizing the skills and knowledge from my previous master’s degree in technology, I can create learning environments that do not focus exclusively on lecture- or reading-based learning.
In my spare time I love spending time with my family. I a married to a teacher, and we have three children (two girls and one boy). As a family, we love to go camping, fishing, and anything outdoors. I love to read or listen to books and love spending some time doing all kinds of arts and crafts.
The traditional learning environment has always been difficult for me due to having Attention Deficit Disorder. Despite this challenge, I became a successful student by finding different strategies that fit my learning style and abilities. I believe that I am a better teacher because of my learning differences, and have had the opportunity to teach and mentor students with the same or similar challenges. In fact, the administration at the middle school consistently placed students who have difficulty learning into my classroom. I have helped some become confident in their abilities by teaching them that just because they learn differently does not mean that they are not smart. Some students simply needed to be exposed to different learning strategies. Others required that I take a firm hand and hold them accountable for their own education and success, but with the appropriate support.
Lifelong learning is something that I have always valued, and I try to continue to take advantage of. I have always had a passionate interest in helping struggling students. I know that different modalities are necessary to teach effectively, and in order to compete with video games and iPods, it is important for the classroom teacher to incorporate engaging activities to keep students’ attention. This is even more important with students whose learning difficulties make it hard for them to focus for any length of time. By utilizing the skills and knowledge from my previous master’s degree in technology, I can create learning environments that do not focus exclusively on lecture- or reading-based learning.
In my spare time I love spending time with my family. I a married to a teacher, and we have three children (two girls and one boy). As a family, we love to go camping, fishing, and anything outdoors. I love to read or listen to books and love spending some time doing all kinds of arts and crafts.