I am currently a certificated teacher at a public high school where I teach English and Spanish. I absolutely love the experiences I have in the classroom watching students have "aha" moments and seeing their eyes light up as they finally are able to create something or master a principle that we have discussed. I am a graduate of Truman State University, a highly-selective liberal arts university in Kirksville, Missouri. I hold a bachelor's in English and Spanish as well as a Master of Arts in Education with a focus in Foreign Language Education. As a life-long learner, I am continuing my education through an online graduate certificate program in Multicultural Education, which I began after realizing I needed more formal studies to better help the variety of students that I work with in my current position. I have also had other informal experiences that have added to my education, including a study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain, an 18-month service mission in Southern Texas (where I was able to practice my Spanish) and a teaching internship at an American high school on a military base in Bamberg, Germany. I have also worked in a Kindergarten through 8th grade charter school teaching Spanish as well as working as a substitute for multiple subjects working Kindergarten through 12th grade.

In general, I love learning and I love sharing my love for learning with my students. With my background in interdisciplinary studies, I am passionate about helping my students understand how what they are learning connects with subjects that most capture their interests. I have a firm belief that almost all subjects can connect in some way. I also have a firm belief that everyone can learn any subject they are willing to dedicate their mind too. Each individual might have to take a different avenue or apply different techniques of study, but with determination and work they can understand. While tutoring or teaching, I try to help students make their own discoveries by asking questions or giving them a moment to think more deeply about an idea before discussing it further. I am goal-oriented and am focused on what you can do at the end of a class or a tutoring session. As an individual, I do not like busy work and would rather be engaged in something meaningful and I do the same while helping students.

While English and Spanish were my favorite subjects to study in school, I have many other interests that occupy my time. When I am not teaching, coaching or studying, you can find me staying active by playing volleyball, running, doing yoga or other sports, cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, traveling or dreaming about new places to go, trying new things and learning about (talking to) other people and their varied interests and cultures.