I was inspired to become a teacher, by a professor at Purdue University, after taking 3 of his classes. He was dedicated, animated, and had a way of bringing history to life.

I graduated from Purdue with a BA in Elementary Education and an endorsement in History. Following graduation, I was a Classroom Teacher for 11 years, a Substitute Teacher for 7 years, and an Adjunct Instructor, at a small college, in OH.

My desire, as a tutor, is to help children, and their families, learn new strategies, new ideas, and new ways to approach learning. One summer I worked extensively with a 2nd-grade student, and his mother, to bring him up to grade level so he would be prepared to move on to the 3rd grade in the fall. His excitement, with each "I get it moment" was contagious! We celebrated the small victories as well as the big ones! I've also done "crisis tutoring" which involved targeting a specific area of concern to prevent any further "backsliding" from occurring.

I have a proven track record of success which includes being part of the staff, who taught in an inner-city school, where the standardized test scores rose by 48% within 3 years. A few years later the school ranked 1st out of the 33 schools in the district. This achievement was attributed to an extensive restructuring of the school curriculum, and the implementation of a new teaching model, which focused heavily on literature and character education. The model, which was designed by the principal and staff, was incorporated into all the areas of instruction. The dramatic turnaround was so successful that a documentary film was made, showing the positive effects the educational model had on the students' lives, and featured on CNN.

I have a very unique and creative approach when working with children. Assessing a student's style of learning and getting to know some of the things they like, such as sports, animals, hobbies, etc. is a great way to create some fun and exciting lessons. Some of the activities I've developed have been highlighted on a local news station and published in a local newspaper.

I love what I do and I love sharing what I do with others. If you have any questions or want to schedule a session, please let me know, and I'll be happy to help!