CERTIFICATION AREAS
Art K-12; Library Science K-12; Instructional Technology Specialist, K-12.
DEGREES
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Tyler School of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, and Temple Rome.
Master's in Library Science, Kutztown University
Master's in Art Education, Kutztown University
I grew up in the West-End of Allentown with my mom & sister, and spent summers in California with my dad. My favorite ride at DisneyLand was Space Mountain.
I went to college in Philadelphia at Tyler School of Art. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into an exchange program that allowed me to attend Rhode Island School of Design for a semester during my senior year. I also studied abroad in Rome, Italy my junior year. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a concentration in Photography. In art school, I took all sorts of arts & craft making studio classes, including glass blowing, sculpture - where I learned to weld, and 3-D design where I made a boat out of wood.
I interned at Rodale Press, in the Photography Department, when they still used film!
My first job after college was restoring old photographs, on a computer using Adobe PhotoShop.
I have also lived in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and all over New England.
I studied traditional Graphic Design methods at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle. I learned to appreciate and love the artform of typography, and the 'old school' techniques of design.
I served a year with AmeriCorps in Providence, Rhode Island. My AmeriCorps assignment was working with urban elementary school kids in a media-literacy project called MediaSmART. We worked with kids to design multi-media productions, including: public-service announcements, book commercials, and billboards. We focused on the "ART" behind the media we consume. I worked with Libray-Media Specialists and artists. In the summer, I ran an art & media literacy program for kids who lived in the community of the Smith Hill public library.
In 2003, I completed the Alternate Route to Certification program in Connecticut, and obtained my teaching certification for Art. I completed my student teaching with middle-school aged students in a multicultural summer arts program.
I decided to go back to school for my graduate degree in 2004. I wanted to do something different. At Kutztown, I was offered a graduate-assitantship in the Library Science & Instructional Technology Department. It seemed like a good fit since I had worked in libraries during my time in AmeriCorps.
I obtained a Master's degree in Library Science in May, 2006 and began teaching in East Penn School District the following September.
In 2007, I completed the Instructional Technology Specialist certification program through Kutztown University, with additional M.Ed. coursework.
In 2012, I completed my thesis project, and finished the M.Ed.in Art Education program at Kutztown University. It has broadened my perspectives with new ways of designing instruction & thinking critically & creatively. Many of the 'Big Ideas' we teach are shared across the curriculum. I am currently working on publishing my thesis curriculum manual.
My dog, Petunia, was rescued from a pound in Ohio. I fostered her, and her brothers & sisters for a few days, and decided to adopt her. She was the best dog and always 'on duty' protecting her home. She passed away in September 2017, but she will always hold a special place in my heart.
In 2012, I fostered a scared, little dog from a local shelter. She was dropped off because her former owner was homeless and could no longer care for her. After taking care of her for several months "temporarily" I made it official and adopted her in September of 2012. She is a dynamic, high energy little dog. Her name is Buttercup. Buttercup just celebrated her 17th birthday (2/14/25)!
In 2017, I bought a house in one of my favorite small towns, Jim Thorpe. To say my house was a 'fixer upper' would be an understatement. But it is a labor of love, and a blank canvas for being creative and learning new things.
I also adopted a Senior cat named Spuds in Summer 2021! He's my first cat, and I always say he is a great 'starter cat' because he has no teeth and no claws. He is like a puppy and loves snuggles and food! Spuds is 15 years old.
In my free-time, I love working on my house, riding my bike on the D & L Trail, gardening in the summer, doing yoga, making tiny pottery, playing my ukulele and listening to music.
I love teaching. Every day a new lesson...