I have been teaching high school English and Literature for over five years now. As a lifelong bibliophile and a writer since I could hold a pencil, it is my joy to share two of my first loves with my students. When I teach, I use everything from the classics to modern literature. It is a privilege to see stories enliven, console, challenge, and bring a smile or a laugh to my students. With writing, I use these same pieces of literature to allow writers of the past to mentor my students along with me. I get to guide my students in finding the best way to express their inner selves: their thoughts, emotions, opinions, passions, likes and dislikes, and more. To see how words fit together in an ordered way to bring forth an image to the world (like assembling a puzzle) is another aspect of teaching writing that I love. In fact, I am still a student of writing myself: I am a candidate for a Master's of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. I completed my undergrad work in English and Humanities at Eastern New Mexico University. When I am not reading (everything from Homer to Dante and Shakespeare to Cormac McCarthy) or writing my short story collection, you can find me hanging out with my sons at home playing board games and Bones, cheering on all teams Philadelphia, riding my bike, or my most recent new hobby, kayaking.