I've been an avid reader all my life. I've also been lucky: as an English teacher and tutor I get to share my love for literature and passion for writing with others. And because I've also worked for corporations, I know how important reading and writing skills are in the workplace.

My education includes Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English along with lifetime Secondary and Community College Teaching Credentials. After teaching middle school, high school and community college English language and creative writing classes for more than 10 years, I took my reading and writing skills into the business world - first as a technical writer, "translating" documents and manuals into language that non-techies like me could understand. And then I transitioned into marketing communications where I really had to hone my writing skills: now I needed to describe products and services so that others would actually want to buy them!

Ultimately I became a senior integrated marketing manager for a Fortune 100 company: that meant I had the responsibility and opportunity to help my staff improve their skills so they could be better at their jobs and advance their careers.

While building my career, I volunteered as a tutor to children and adults in reading, vocabulary building, grammar and writing. Upon retiring, a few years ago, I ramped up my volunteer work as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) working with children in foster care to help them navigate the many challenges and problems that they face. Because of their home environment history and sometimes unmet special needs, many children in foster care fall below grade level and need help to catch up and excel.

As a tutor with Varsity Tutors, I bring subject matter expertise along with my experience in classroom teaching, tutoring, and the business world to help clients achieve their goals.