I am a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Special Education. I have been a teacher for 27 years in grades 6 through 12 with students from a variety of backgrounds. I've spent several years working with students with learning and emotional disabilities in self-contained and general education settings and the majority of my experience has been on a refugee campus teaching students from Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. I am certified in English 6-12, English Language Arts 6-12, Special Education 6-12, English as a Second Language, and Speech. I am very passionate about helping students find a love of reading and a firm believer that the only thing holding students back from that love is finding the right reading material. I also believe reading and writing are essential communication skills that anyone can learn to do well when given the correct tools.