Teaching is something I have always done. Even as a child, playing school was my favorite activity. I would set up all of my stuffed animals as if they were my students. School was important to me not just because I enjoyed learning, but also because the teachers and school system offered me a certain stability that I didn’t always have at home. As I grew up, I realized that I couldn’t wait to offer that same sense of stability to my own students.
My first job as an educator was teaching Pre-K while in Junior College where I earned a degree in Early Childhood Development. My education continued at Florida State University, where I earned a BS degree in Science Education. After graduation I taught Middle Grades Science 6 – 8 for six years before making the transition into virtual education. I also have experience with the cognitively disabled as a Living Coach at PARC.
I worked with Florida Virtual School (FLVS) for eight years, first as a high school level Earth Space Science teacher, then teaching a Leadership Skills Development course and eventually becoming a Lead Instructor. Being in that role allowed me to support a group of teachers and coach them at best practices for online instruction.
While at FLVS I was nominated by a staff of more than 1300 teachers and awarded the Marry Beth Atwel Award for mentoring online instructors. I was also my school house’s Teacher of the Year for three consecutive years. In 2013 I began working with Pasco eSchool as their Instructional Coach. During my time with Pasco, I’ve had the opportunity to support a full eSchool staff consisting of over 60 full-time instructors. I work to help teachers achieve success with their students, support professional development, develop policies and procedures with the administration, and I’ve also helped to create a blended learning cohort to support all blended classrooms throughout Pasco County. In 2015, I was given the 2015 -16 Pasco eSchool Teacher of the Year award.
I have presented at several state conferences for virtual learning, providing valuable techniques to engage and motivate students. Most recently, I presented at FETC and the FLDVIPN Florida Network of District Virtual Instructional Programs Symposium. Online teachers from around the state attended these event to learn new tools, best practices, and to network with one another. At FLDVIPN, I was a co-presenter with Mawi Asgadom, creator of the FLVS Leadership Courses. Together we offered tools to becoming a more effective online instructor, celebrated teacher success, and worked to remind teachers of how important their jobs are. I am also the creator of The Virtual Balcony Facebook page providing motivation and encouragement to virtual teachers all over the world.
- 2017 – 2018 Mindset Works Educational Consultant
- 2015 iNACOL co-presenter
- 2015 – 2016 Pasco eSchool Boot Camp Coordinator / Presenter
- 2014 – 2015 FLDVIPN co-presenter with Mawi Asgadom
- 2014 – 2015 FETC Conference / Presenter
- 2014 – 2015 FLVS Staff Conference / Presenter
- 2014 – 2015 Pasco eSchool Boot Camp Coordinator / Presenter
- 2013 – 2015 Facilitator of monthly professional development for Pasco eSchool teachers
- 2013 FLDVIPN Collaborate / Presenter Topic: Blackboard Collaborate
- 2013 Celebrate Literacy Book Talk Presenter
- 2012 – 2013 FLVS Science National Honor Society Co-Sponsor
- 2012 FLDVIPN Presenter Topic: Motivating Students
- 2012 FLVS Presenter Staff Conference
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