My portfolio...

Please use the tabs above to navigate around my portfolio:

• Under the Education Philosophy tab, you can find my philosophy on teaching and education. 

• The Lessons tab contains three categories of lessons, each with two examples. All are complete with lesson plans and materials. 

• Under the Topics in Education tab I have included three projects in which I examined some of the concerns in the education field other than lesson plan creation- race, poverty, special education, and creating a culturally-sensitive classroom.

Get to know me...

My teaching style is a combination of various educational experiences and positions that I have held over the years. 

One of my first ventures into the education field was in creating my final project for my certificate in Museum Management from the Virginia Association of Museums. At the time, I was a member of the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society, a non-profit education organization that brings SOL-based activities to schools to teach students about the colonial era. I arranged for us to visit an elementary school in Culpeper County, working directly with one of the teachers to select activities, confirm relevant SOLs, and organize other details of the visit. Activities included a virtual field trip of Mount Vernon (as pictured above), period flag coloring, 18th century dance, games, and the "work or play" bucket, in which students handled period items and try to figure out what they were. 

The students both had a lot of fun with these activities, and learned so much from them. They particularly had a lot of questions during the virtual tour and for the "work and play" bucket. This was a great first experience for me in seeing how powerful visual and tactile experiences can be. 

For the last ten years, I have been incredibly fortunate to work at James Madison's Montpelier. I have worked over the years up from an Interpreter to one of the House Managers, giving tours of the house and property to the public and school groups, as well as managing other Interpreters. Shortly after Montpelier's exhibit on slavery, The Mere Distinction of Colour, opened, PBS came to film about it, and I can be seen addressing the Family Friend tour, geared towards children, about the exhibit in their presentation (at 1:20). 

I also spend much time conducting the student programs as well, delving into subjects such as the Colonial era and Early Republic era of our country, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, archaeology, slavery, and more. Our style of conducting student programs at Montpelier is more student-led in nature, with students examining artifacts, creating timelines, and answering questions.

My experience here has fostered a teaching style that favors hands-on interactions, guided exploration, and inquiry. 

For the last four years, I have worked as a teacher in both the public schools and in a residential setting. I have taught all social studies areas including World History I, World History II, Virginia and United States History, and Government. I have prepared students for both the SOLs and the GED test. I greatly enjoy creating engaging lessons for the students, posing questions to them, and getting them to explore the material for themselves. I particularly favor activities that get the students being creative and getting them moving. I have greatly enjoyed forming the relationships that I have with my students, having wonderful conversations, and guiding them in finding their place as a young adult. 

One of my main goals in education is to make the material relevant for everyone. I am excited to help connect the dots between the past and present, and help individuals find their place as a global citizen in today's world. 

Thank you for your time and consideration!