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I'm a Michigan Girl at Heart!

Born and raised in a small town in northern Michigan, I found my way to Houston via Mexico and Brasil. I taught science and math in secondary classrooms for 15 years before striking out on my own - not because I no longer enjoyed the students - but because various districts started to hear about what I was doing and started requesting that I come and conduct trainings for their teachers on successful teaching strategies.



Although I hated to leave "my kids," it would not be fair to have them receive instruction primarily through substitutes more and more often; I also figured that if I worked with 100 teachers who worked with 150 students in day, I could potentially impact 1500 students. I had to do it.



I started tutoring 2000, while I was in the classroom and have kept up with it even now, so I can still see real results and the impact instruction can have on students. It is why I became a teacher.

Certifications:


2002  Texas Professional Teaching Certificate: Composite Secondary Math, Composite Secondary Science.
1995  Texas Professional Teaching Certificate: Professional Development K-6 and Earth Science.
1989  Michigan Professional Teaching Certificate:  all subjects Grade K-5, all sciences grades K-8 and Spanish grades K-12

Education:


2013 to2018   Texas A&M, College Station, Texas.   Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction.

2007 to 2009  Jones International University, Boulder, Colorado.   Master's Degree in Adult Education.
1990 to 1995  Framingham State University, Framingham, Massachusetts.   Graduate work in K-12 Education
1985 to 1989  Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan.   Bachelors of Arts: Double Major: Spanish and Group Science with an emphasis in Chemistry
 

Work History (Teaching):


2006 to present  Independent Educational Consultant/Published Author in the areas of gifted and science education, Texas.  My books.

2004 to 2006    Horizons Gifted/Talented Helping Teacher, Cypress Fairbanks ISD Houston, Texas  .

1999 to 2004    Science Department Chair and R.O.P.E.S. Facilitator, Thornton Middle School, Katy, Texas  

2001 to 2004    WebMastering Teacher, 8th grade, Thornton Middle School, Katy, Texas 

2001 to 2004    ESL Science Teacher, Thornton Middle School, Katy, Texas 

1998 to 2004    Honors Integrated Physics and Chemistry Teacher, 8th grade, Thornton Middle School, Katy, Texas  

1997 to 2001    Tutor (all subjects), Sylvan Learning Center, Katy Fwy 

1997 to 1998    Science Teacher, 6th grade, Thornton Junior High, Katy, Texas  

1995 to 1997    Earth Science Teacher, 8th grade, Thornton Junior High, Katy, Texas  Students of all ability levels.

1993 to 1995    Classroom Teacher, 4th through 8th grade, Escola Pan Americana, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 

1990 to 1993    Science Teacher, 5/6 Grade, American School Foundation of Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico  


Work History (Tutoring):
 

I began tutoring middle school math my first year teaching in Mexico. I have continued to tutor all levels of math, as well as other subjects and grades until the present time. I have worked with hundreds of students, one on one, anywhere from a few months to a year.  I have taught or tutored all of the topics listed above in the areas of interest.​

My Resume

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