In 2007, I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with Minors in both Sociology and English, from MTSU. I spent several years in the medical field before deciding to pursue a career in education. I completed a summer residency with Nashville Teaching Fellows in 2011 before entering the classroom in the 2011-12 school year. I still maintain an active TN teaching license for English grades 7-12. All of my classroom teaching experience has occurred in non-traditional school settings. As the first generation college graduate in my family, I understand the challenges students often face when navigating the school system in both K-12 and college settings. This unique perspective motivated me to work with students that were often struggling with school or lacked the motivation to tap into their potential. As far as my teaching style and philosophy, I believe that every student can achieve greatness and there is always room for growth. I often approach learning with out of the box thinking, and use materials that engage the student, allowing them to make connections and learn concepts with topics that interest them. Once a foundation is laid, it can easily be built upon by applying the same techniques with other texts or materials that may not be quite as interesting, yet still required to demonstrate mastery of a skill. I have a record of success in my classroom, and was recognized as having the highest growth for English III in my district for the 2014-2015 school year. My favorite subjects to teach and tutor are Literature and Writing. I believe words are powerful, even more so when you dive into their often unspoken meanings. In my spare time I read everything I can get my hands on, re-purpose furniture, and explore real estate.