The purpose of this portfolio is to serve as a record of my academic work prior to embarking upon my dissertation research.  Within this portfolio you will find evidence of my ability to critically analyze and synthesize literature and communicate the results of research.

In the final sections, evidence is provided in my ability to perform the proposed research for my dissertation.  Evidence here is based upon methodological and research practices.  

Due to the size of the documents housed within this porfolio, it is best viewed on a computer.  Layout issues may appear when using a phone or tablet.

I am the District Content Area Leader (CAL) and elementary music teacher in Livonia Public Schools, Michigan.  In these positions, I guide 16 teachers in curriculum, planning, and instruction.  I have guided DEI review that resulted in adoption of two new curriclua within the district.  My courses include class general music for kindergarten through 4th grade as well as self-contained special education courses for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Moderate Cognitive Impairments (MoCi), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Physical and Other Heath Impairments (PoHi), and other categorizations.  In January 2024, I was awarded the Michigan Music Education Association's Music Educator of the Year award.

I am an active clinician, speaking at the regional, local, and international conferences and as guest lecturer for teacher preparation courses.  I am most requested for my expertise in special education general music and behavior management.  As part of this focus, I developed a popular lesson structure and sequence of activities (Link) for self-contained elementary special education music classes that is used by teachers across the world.  Other topics have included: technology integration in music classrooms and cross-curricular connections between the arts and general curriculum.  I teach Visual and Performing Arts for the Elementary Teacher (EXPS 250) at University of Michigan Dearborn. In this class, future educators are taught basic skills in the arts and how to incorporate these skills to enhance student learning in their classrooms.

My research interests revolve around the subject of advisory structures in secondary education - particularly in the training and dispositional development of secondary teachers to serve as affective advisors for these students.