As a student, I disliked school, and I became an educator to help improve students' learning experiences.
Throughout high school and college, I struggled to find my place within academic systems. After graduating from the College of William and Mary, I pursued research science opportunities in Antarctica and on tall ships in the South Pacific. These experiences came with an element of public outreach and science communication, which in turn led me into the world of experiential education. I spent 5 years teaching students out of doors - from marine science for 4th-12th graders in California, to 7th grade environmental science in Washington, to Pre-K -8th grade ecology in Maine. These opportunities to work with students across every grade level helped me decide that as an educator, my job is to help students realize that they "can." And to this day, I strive to empower my students through making content accessible and relatable, while bringing a hefty dose of enthusiasm to the table.