Professional Development

I have always enjoyed challenging myself both personally and professionally.  I think my professional development experiences speak to that.  When I am afforded the opportunity to learn I see it as my responsibility to share my experiences and learning with my peers and the other educational professionals. Here you see a record of my professional development as well as a sample of some of the presentations I have given at conferences.

Teaching for Equity and Justice Summer Institute with Facing History and Ourselves (June 2023) - This transformative workshop took me on an eye-opening journey, where I examined myself as an educator and explored the historical purpose and access to education. We delved into the current systems of inequity, hoping to spark a deeper understanding of how to create change. With this newfound knowledge, I'm more dedicated than ever to improving my teaching skills and fostering a fair and equitable school community environment for my incredible students and colleagues.

Teachers College Reading Writing Project Tokyo Institute for IB International Schools (February 2023) - Participated in a highly interactive institute focused on developing students' literary and academic discourse through engagement with culturally responsive pedagogy and critical literacies, while also learning about research on shifting from a culture of obedience to a culture of agency and exploring various pedagogical approaches in workshops.

Teaching About Climate Change: Vulnerabilities, Responsibilities, and Action - Brown University Choices Program  (November 2020) - Participated in the interactive online workshop led by the Global Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh for the Choices Program to explore the readings, lessons, and videos that are part of the unit, and discuss ways to implement each in diverse classroom settings, including tips for using the unit in remote settings and/or project-based classrooms. 

Design Bootcamp - Global Online Academy - (August 2020) - Participated in one week intensive program with a cohort of teachers and facilitators for GOA to design online learning experiences that promote student agency, build community in online spaces among student groups and teachers, design assessments that emphasize evidence of student learning, incorporate wayfinding and best practices in the design of online learning spaces, self-assess and reflect upon their pedagogy and practice, review and provide meaningful feedback on colleagues' work products.

Writing Workshop with Teachers College at Columbia University (Summer 2020) - Engaged in over thirty hours of professional training with delivering Writer’s Workshop and English Language Arts lessons in grades six to eight using techniques from the Teachers College at Columbia University. 

Designing for Online Learning - Global Online Academy (Spring 2020)- Covers the fundamentals of designing high quality online learning experiences.  Explores the possibilities and limitations of online learning, the development of relationships and human connections in online spaces, the essentials of page design and navigation, and the design of learning experiences and assessments in online environments. 

IBAP Regional Workshops- MYP Individuals and Societies: Delivering the MYP curriculum  (Fall 2019) - Cat 2, Beijing, China, Fall 2019

Ed Tech Team Summit featuring Google for Education (Fall 2017) - Took classes on all Apps in the G Suite and attended sessions that focused on best practices of integrating technology into learning. 

NWEA Professional Development (Fall 2017) - Worked with our faculty to utilize "MAPS" testing uses and its data to; inform our teachers classroom instruction; analyze strengths and areas of need, within the areas of reading, math, and language usage; and give us a standardized measurement of individual and groups of students at a moment and over time to enlighten our teaching, curriculum, and programs.

International Baccalaureate Online Course, “Planning, teaching, and assessing for student learning” (Fall 2017) - This online workshop extends  understanding of learner-centered approaches to teaching and learning through helping you analyze your current approach to designing a curriculum.  

Facing History and Ourselves Online Course, “Teaching to Kill a Mockingbird” (Spring 2017) - This online course introduces Facing History’s resource, Teaching Mockingbird, which incorporates civic education into ELA curricula through the exploration of themes such as identity, difference, race, justice, and how individuals and communities define their responsibilities toward other members of their communities. 

St. Albans Parents’ Association Research Grant (Summer 2015) - Awarded a grant to revise lower school history curriculum due to the overall departmentalization of the grade and in an effort to integrate a sequence of skills and content between A Form (grade 6) and Form I History (grade 7), 

St. Albans Parents’ Association Research Grant (Summer 2014) - Awarded a grant to review, revise, and improve the A Form Pre-Algebra curriculum. 

Tennessee Council of English Conference (Fall 2012). - “Co-Curricular Research as a Humanities Team” to middle and high school teachers on how to design and integrate quality research and writing across curriculum.

Martin Institute for Teaching Excellence Conference (Summer 2012). - Presented two workshops titled, “Globalizing Your Curriculum with Model United Nations” and “Research and Writing by a Humanities Team” to middle and high school teachers. 

Foreign Policy Research Institute, Civilian Control of the Military and American Democracy, Wheaton, IL (April 2011)  - Selected to attend a weekend-long program that featured a series of lectures by leading scholars. 

Rotary International Group Study Exchange (April 2010) - Selected to represent Memphis for a month - long homestays and cultural exchange in the Republic of Korea. Presented information on American learning culture to Korean educators and students.

Global Think Tank, Girls Prep School, Chattanooga, TN (October 2009) - Selected by Head of School to represent Hutchison School at a conference to explore strategies, resources, and issues with Global Studies.

Presenter, T.A.I.S. conference in Nashville, TN (Fall 2008). - Presented strategies, resources, and student examples for teaching about China. 

National Consortium for Teachers of Asia study tour to China and Japan (October 2008) - Selected to tour historical sites, schools, and develop curriculum while traveling for two weeks in China and Japan. 

Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad (Summer 2008) - Studied Chinese history, language, and culture and arts at Hubei University in Wuhan, China. Developed lessons and curriculum on China area studies for US educators.

Above and Beyond Award, Hutchison School (Spring 2008) - Chosen by supervisor and fellow teachers as the teacher who consistently performed assigned duties and helped peers without having to be asked or compensated.

Foreign Policy Research Institute, “Teaching India”, Chattanooga, TN (March 2006) - Selected to attend a weekend-long program which featured a series of lectures by leading scholars on India –related topics ranging from history, to religion and foreign policy. 

“Understanding Hinduism and Buddhism”. Rhodes College, Memphis, TN (Fall 2005) - Continuing education class at Rhodes College taught by Rhodes College Religious Studies faculty.

Croft Inst. for International Studies, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS (Summer 2004)  - Selected for a two week program for East Asian Studies; attended classes, participated in seminars, and presented lesson plans relating to Asian studies focusing on China, Japan, and Korea. 

Facing History as Ourselves (Spring 2004) - Selected by Head of School to attend training session for teaching “Race and Membership in American Society”.

Facing History as Ourselves (Spring 2000) - Selected by Head of School to attend training session for teaching “Choices in Little Rock”.

Mission Trip to Honduras (Summer 1999 and 2000) - Planned, chaperoned, and raised money for a service trip for 30 students (grades 7-12) to work with a Honduran orphanage.

Facing History as Ourselves (Spring 1998) - Selected by Head of School to attend training session for teaching “Holocaust and Human Behavior”.

Oberstowne Boys Centre, Dublin, Ireland (Summer 1997) - Planned and completed an internship at the Oberstowne Boys Centre in Ireland. Lived with and counseled adolescents with a variety of emotional and substance abuse issues.

Teacher, Polish National School #9 (August 1994 – December 1994) - Taught English as a foreign language for the Polish national school system as part of self-designed and university-approved semester abroad program.

Simon Marius Gymnasium, Gunzenhausen, Germany (June 1988 - August 1988) - Audited classes in German at Simon Marius Gymnasium, a German high school in Gunzenhausen, Germany.