About Me

Career

I began teaching in 1988.  I have taught in a variety of settings, including a small urban private high school, a mid-size suburban public middle school, and large suburban public high schools (LHS and VHHS). I have coached (including swimming and basketball), sponsored clubs (including yearbook and newspaper), and taught a wide variety of classes (from grades 7-12, support, regular, honors, and AP). I joined D128 in 1994, and became English department supervisor at LHS in 2007. 

I have earned a number of degrees - BA English and BA History from Loyola University, MA English from UIC, MA School Leadership from Concordia University, and EdD Curriculum and Social Inquiry from National Louis University. I have also earned National Board Certification and most recently Google Educator Certification. 

Philosophy

Having devoted my life to the vocation of teaching, I have come across a number of inspirational educational writers, but none has impacted me more than educational philosopher John Dewey. 

"Education is not preparation for life," Dewey wrote, "education is life itself." I strive to live this philosophy by making classroom learning experiences relevant, empowering, and authentic.