About Me

The purpose of education is to help our citizenry better itself thru knowledge, better skills, and an enhanced lifestyle. I believe the first step for tutors and teachers is to find a discipline they enjoy, are passionate about, and desire to share it with others. Tutors and teachers must know their audience. I have been a community college accounting instructor for 35 years and taught students possessing a wide range of academic skills, from students possessing a GED certificate to students with doctorates retraining for today's work environment. Incorporating participation from everyone in the class is vital for students to feel welcome and comfortable in the class. As teachers, we must be flexible in delivery methods. The same methods don't work for everyone. With online classes, I try to provide a variety of tools including team projects, discussion boards, narrated slides, practice quizzes, demo problems, and flash cards. Providing as many items as possible without information overload is critical in accounting. I strive to provide extra help and encouragement to struggling students. Many times it's not the subject matter but a wealth of other problems the student is facing. I always try to be empathetic but fair. A good question is: "What would help me if I were the student?" I know and understand that sometimes life gets in the way of our best-laid plans. For a student to feel successful in an online class the student must feel included in the class activities. I never want students to feel an online class is a glorified independent study. I use a discussion forum for every chapter for students to ask questions regarding difficult topics and hopefully post answers to some of these questions. I send email messages to students that miss 2 tests in a row to see what the problem is with their lack of participation. Not always, but sometimes the phone call is all it takes to get the student back on track. Students need to know teachers had to once learn the discipline. I tell my students there is no mistake in accounting they will make I haven't made 100 times. Students need to see the human side of a teacher. Many times a teacher might be the only role model a student has. A teacher should consider this mentoring task a privilege to help guide and shape someone else. Part of a teacher's role is to build confidence and encourage students to reach further. I have community college graduates from my program that continued on to obtain a bachelor's degree and are now CPAs. I am most proud of my students that decide they want to continue their education and then come teach for me. On days when things haven't gone right in the class, I always tell myself, "This is the only time students have to learn about this topic. So don't give up and dismiss class early." We can't afford for students to miss a chance to learn something that might make a difference to them in the future.

Education & Certifications

Tutoring Subjects