Award-Winning Tutors from Salem College

I'm passionate about all things science and English and belief that anybody can master them with the right skill set. For science I try to use visual examples, practice problems, and connecting each topic together. For English, breaking down the text into its core themes, annotation, and writing practice.

As a retired educator and career development coordinator, I have over 17 years of classroom experience in subjects such as High School Accounting, Marketing, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Public Speaking. My teaching philosophy centers on fostering a supportive learning environment where students feel empowered to ask questions and explore concepts deeply. I strive to connect with each student by tailoring my approach to their individual learning styles, ensuring they grasp complex ideas with confidence. My dedication to helping students achieve their academic goals is complemented by my teaching license to teach in North Carolina as well as working closely with local community colleges that offer the Career College Promise programs.

I am a graduate of Salem College. I received my Bachelor of Arts in French and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics. I took a year off to work in a pharmacology research lab and then went on to obtain my Doctor of Pharmacy degree in Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Since graduation, I have worked in a community pharmacy and homeschooled my children until they got to middle school. I enjoyed teaching my children and once they got older, I decided to tutor English to Chinese children. I became a certified ESL instructor and really enjoyed interacting and learning from the as much as they learnt from me. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about English and Literature more specifically the ability to think critically and make constructive criticism. I am currently in the process of taking Standardized Tests so that I can help students preparing for Critical Reading and Writing portions of the Standardized Tests. I am a passionate proponent of education, especially kids in K-6 because I believe a strong foundation will enable them to do their best in higher level classes. I believe having a solid education necessary in order to be a well-rounded and productive member of society, and I try to impart this appreciation to all of my students. In my spare time, I enjoy reading that which enriches my life, dancing, walking, and learning new topics like computer/IT.

I am a firm believer that education truly is the key to making the world a better place. I am passionate about helping students because learning is inspiring and empowering. It is so rewarding to see students grow as they gain self-confidence. In teaching children, my philosophy is to educate the whole child. To make the most of learning experiences, children first need to have their basic needs of safety, nutrition and rest met. Then, children must feel accepted, respected, engaged, supported and challenged. As teachers, we must earn their trust. Often, students come to school to learn life skills, in addition to the content on the syllabus. The same can be said of people of all ages, but especially with children. I double majored in Religion and French at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where I graduated with my Bachelors Degree. While in college, I spent a semester studying French Language and Culture at The University of Grenoble in France. After college graduation, I continued my studies by completing the graduate level Teacher Education program at Salem College to become a certified Elementary Education teacher in North Carolina. While teaching kindergarten at an international school overseas, I began an online program for a Masters of Educational Theory and Practice through Arkansas State University and graduated with my M.Ed. degree. I completed a graduate level course of study in ESL through The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, to become certified as a teacher of students for whom English is an additional language. I have also earned a TESOL certificate from VIPKid, the company with whom I have been teaching English to children in China for the past three years. My career in Education has included public, private, international and virtual settings, as a teacher as well as school director. Most of my teaching experience has included elementary, special needs and English learners. I have taught children of all ages, as well as adults. I have worked with small children from all over the world, troubled teenagers and students with learning disabilities. I have traveled extensively to places including China, England, Serbia, Greece, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Austria, India and Canada. I have lived in France and North Macedonia. I tutor all Elementary School subjects. I can also tutor Religious Studies and History. My tutoring style is interactive. I use real life examples and ask a lot of questions to develop students' critical thinking skills. I often answer questions with another question to encourage students to think more deeply. I like to make learning fun as often as possible, for example using props and songs with younger students. I also love to make up silly stories. My favorite subject to tutor is ESL. I am especially drawn to students who are newcomers to the United States or simply learning to communicate in English as an additional language. The process of language acquisition fascinates me, and I love to encourage others along the way. I have tutored students with many different language backgrounds and heritages. I live in North Carolina and am currently working full time as a Middle School ESL teacher.

I have a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Salem College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Tar Heels!), where I was awarded the Outstanding Student Award at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since 1996, I have held a master's level teaching license-teaching elementary, middle and high school students in regular education, special education and homeschool settings. I recently became a Certified Computer Science Discoveries Educator through Code.org. Equitable access to books and sharing the love of reading is my dual passion- I have helped bring thousands of books to rural areas with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, created a website with my daughter to provide an accessible, engaging resource used by families all over the world, and worked as a literacy coach in multiple states. I am a Scorer for standardized ELA assessments in the Southwest- so I know what it takes to master the EOG tests! I have tutored extensively since 2020- a proud moment recently is one of my third-grade students just won her schoolwide reading trimester award-exceeding the classroom goal by 1138%! I have always seen a teacher's role as a guide- to provide the educational tools, safe space and creative experiences to let students lead their learning adventure. It is a privilege and an honor to get to be a part of your child's educational journey!