About Me

A little about me first. I graduated from Clemson University in 1984 in Biological Sciences and worked in private industry for twelve years. Working as an environmental chemist has proved invaluable as I use this experience to help me be a better teacher. In 1998 I went back to school full time and earned my Master in Education with initial certification in Science. I have been at WHHS since 1999 and have taught Physics (regular, honors,AP), Physical Science (regular, honors), Biology, Earth,Chemistry, Astronomy and in 2015 Principles of Engineering. My education has not slowed down at all. I have taken coursework in gifted and talented, calculator based learning, astronomy, earth science, and technology. This keeps me very busy during the school year and my two boys and husband try to keep up. Tom has his own carpentry company and works around Greenville, Easley,and Clemson. Nick graduated May 2014 from Clemson majoring in marketing/management and is currently working in software sales in Virginia and Austin is a MMN stationed in Kings Bay, GA on a ballistic submatine. We take care of each other and our house. We find time to travel and sail our boat in our spare time (time? what's that?). My favorite pass-time is FIRST Robotics. I am director of FIRST Robotics Team 283, The Generals, a high school program where students learn to design, build, program a robot and then compete in a game against other teams from around the world. So much fun, everyone should be doing it. I am also excited to be a part time employee at Roper Mountain Science Center. I narrate and run the planetarium shows on Friday evenings. This allows me a unique opportunity to bring my own classes there without using staff at RMSC. Summer of 2002 I participated in NASA Teacher Workshops in Stennis Mississippi. The experience was unforgettable. We spent two weeks talking with top scientists, touring space center facilities, and learning activities to use in the classroom. We went to Michoud, the external fuel tank assembly plant. I still reflect on the Columbia accident and question if we saw THE tank wrapped in foam that was the cause. From 2002 to 2004 I worked on National Boards, and achieved certification in Fall 2004 and last year renewed. I applied to be an Educator Astronaut and though I was not the"RIGHT STUFF" I did make the first cut from over 2000 educator applications. The 194 educators from across the country that came close have been asked to become advisers to NASA as they develop curriculum for the classroom. The group is called NEAT, Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers. For a number of year NASA funded our expenses in exchange for collaborative work. Though budget cuts have ended this program I stay connected with this group. These experiences make me a better teacher and I share the best of me in my classroom. I love to learn and I hope to instill that in all my students.