Simply Novel

Simply Novel is built for real classrooms and real teachers. Every resource is designed to be practical, thoughtful, and genuinely useful—no fluff, no busywork, and no overcomplication. The focus is on helping students truly understand what they’re learning, not just complete assignments. These low-to-zero-prep lessons give you structure without scripting every move, so you can spend less time planning and more time doing what matters most: engaging with students, guiding meaningful thinking, and bringing learning to life. Simply Novel exists to support the kind of teaching that feels intentional, human, and impactful—the reason most of us became teachers in the first place.

My teaching style has evolved with experience, research, and real classrooms. I taught high school ELA for years and now teach middle school theater—so yes, I’ve seen just about everything. I design practical, low-prep resources that prioritize clarity, purposeful thinking, and flexibility. My lessons provide structure without rigidity, supporting teachers while still leaving room for professional judgment and real student engagement.

I began my teaching career in the early 2000s as a high school English Language Arts teacher in California. Like many new teachers, I quickly realized that the available materials didn’t reflect the realities of my classroom—or the way students actually learned. So in 2004, I started creating my own resources, which led to the founding of Secondary Solutions. In 2005, I joined Teachers Pay Teachers as one of the platform’s earliest sellers, at a time when the idea of teachers creating and sharing their own curriculum was just beginning. What started as resources for my own students quickly grew into materials used by teachers around the world. Over the years, that work expanded to include both secondary and elementary curriculum, and in 2015, everything came together under one brand: Simply Novel. Since then, I’ve spent the last decade refining, updating, and modernizing ELA curriculum to reflect current research, evolving classroom needs, and the realities teachers face every day. Today, I teach middle school theater after years in high school ELA—an experience that has shaped my flexible, student-centered approach and given me perspective across grade levels, subjects, and learning styles. Simply Novel resources are designed to support strong instruction without scripting every move. They’re practical, low-prep, and built to help students think deeply—while giving teachers the clarity and confidence to teach the way they know works best.

I’m a transformational trainer, author, coach, and educator with experience spanning K–12 classrooms and adult learning. I began my career as a high school English Language Arts teacher and earned my Master’s Degree in Education from Cal State Fullerton. In 2004, I founded Secondary Solutions (which became Simply Novel in 2014) after realizing the available materials didn’t reflect the realities of my classroom or the way students actually learn. In 2005, I joined Teachers Pay Teachers as one of the platform’s earliest sellers, at a time when teacher-created curriculum was just beginning to take shape. Over the years, my work expanded across grade levels, and in 2015, Simply Novel was born as the next evolution of that journey—bringing everything under one roof and refining the focus on practical, classroom-ready ELA resources. Since then, I’ve spent the last decade designing, revising, and modernizing curriculum used by teachers around the world. Today, I teach middle school theater after years in high school ELA—which means I’m still in the classroom, still adapting, and still designing with real students in mind. That perspective continues to shape my teaching style and the resources I create. In addition to my work in education, I’m a certified transformational trainer and coach with Life Design Education, where I support individuals and leaders in building clarity, connection, and meaningful change. Whether I’m working with students or adults, my approach is grounded in purposeful learning, flexibility, and connected relationships. I’m also a mom to a 17-year-old daughter and, when I’m not teaching or creating, I enjoy building curriculum, traveling when possible, and unwinding with movie nights at home.