Educational Compost

I began my career teaching middle school math with a drama exploratory class thrown in for good measure. I transitioned to teaching all subjects in an at-risk, title 1 school. After getting my M.Ed. in gifted education and seeing first-hand what gifted curriculum could do for at-risk students (when tailored to their needs), I pursued and completed my Ed.D. at the University of Virginia. I've had the privilege of supporting the growth of educators and educational leaders from all grade levels, types of schools, from all around the nation and world.

I strive to: plan proactively; implement best practices in curriculum and instruction, whether for students in the classroom or teachers in a workshop; and support learning in a way that is hands-on, interactive, and tailored to individual needs. I believe in engaging, authentic, meaningful curriculum and instruction that dignifies every learner.

“Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award,” Missouri Association of Colleges of Teachers of Education, Evangel University, 2002-2003.

[Ed.D., University of Virginia, 2013.] Concentrations: Educational Psychology/Gifted Education, Curriculum, and Instruction Capstone: Effective Educational Practice: A Crucial First Step in Addressing the Needs of Traditionally Overlooked Students [M.Ed., Drury University, 2007.] Emphasis: Gifted Education Thesis: Identification Characteristics of Gifted Students from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds [B.S., Evangel University, 2002.] Major: Elementary Education Minor: Middle School Mathematics Endorsement: Elementary Education, Grades 1-6; Middle School Mathematics, Grades 5-9

I love supporting teacher growth - which subsequently supports student growth! I've had many opportunities in the last ten years to do this through district in-services, conference workshops, working as an adjunct instructor, serving as a teaching assistant for educator courses, conducting classroom, school, and curriculum evaluations, developing teacher support tools, designing curriculum, and very irregularly posting to my blog www.eductionalcompost.com. If there's a support tool you wish you had, let me know!