PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Middle School Math Teacher and Middle School Robotics Coach, The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX. 2023-present

• Taught 6th grade enriched math class an integrated curriculum that combines numbers and operations, algebraic reasoning, 2D and 3D geometry, probability and statistics using a project-based approach that encourages inquiry-driven learning. 

• Coached four middle school robotics teams, competing in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Division.

Long-Term Substitute, Club Sponsor and Summer Camp Teacher, The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX. 2022-2023

• Long-term substitute for the Assistant Director of Innovation and Collaboration; collaborated on artificial intelligence applications, prompt engineering workshops, machine learning integration with Scratch coding projects, creating augmented and virtual reality experiences, and design, prototyping, engineering and 3D printing support for teachers and students.

• Club sponsor for 3rd and 4th grade Young Debaters Club and 7th and 8th grade 3D Game Design Club.

• Taught summer school classes: 1st and 2nd grade Super Sleuths and Science Explorers and 7th and 8th grade math.

Middle School Science Teacher and Advisor, The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX. 2020 - 2022

• Taught 7th and 8th grade science classes an integrated curriculum that incorporates biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and engineering into a project-based approach to studying the Earth Science realms of the Atmosphere and the Biosphere, respectively. Helped develop a Social Impact emphasis in the 7th grade science curriculum.

• Advisor and mentor to a 7th grade advisory.

STEM Educator, iFly Indoor Skydiving, Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth, TX, and Seattle, WA. 2017 - 2020

• Taught over 150 iFly STEM programs to over 6,000 students in grades 2-12 and college at the Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin and Seattle wind tunnels as part of interactive indoor skydiving field trip experiences.

• Lessons included introduction to STEM concepts and careers as well as challenging, hands-on lab activities geared toward qualitative and quantitative understanding of fluid dynamics.

Substitute Teacher, The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX. 2015 - 2020

• Substituted for Lower School (PreK-4th grade homerooms and Science, Art and Music), Middle School (Math, Science, English, Spanish, History and Fine Arts), Upper School (Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Astronomy and Anatomy),  P.E. (PreK-12th grade and Health), Boarding (weekend Dorm Parent) and after-school programs (Happy Haps, Daisy Afternoons and Daisy Den). 

Summer Camp Teacher, The Study Center, Texas Christian University (TCU) Campus, Fort Worth, TX. Summer 2015

• Taught creative 3D computer game design using Unity and C# programming and taught hands-on workshops in electronics fabrication using Arduino® platform, mechanicals devices and electronic sensors to students in grades 6-12.

Sr. Project Engineer, NTE Energy, St. Augustine, FL and Sweetwater, TX. 2011 – 2015

• Provided engineering and project management services for clients in power, water and renewable energy industries.

• Managed US and international patent application process for renewable hybrid technology that uniquely combines biomass and fossil power generation; named inventor on patent US 8,495,878; project lead $200M Pecan Creek Energy Center.

Process Engineer, AMEC, Power & Process, Raleigh, NC, Plymouth Meeting, PA and Atlanta, GA. 2007 – 2011

• Provided design engineering services for clients in biofuels, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, process and energy industries.

• Created detailed engineering designs, drawings and specifications; conducted process studies, including CFD modeling, RAM studies, time and motion analysis, and economic sensitivity studies; developed visual communication tools, including 3D graphics of facility siteplans, 3D piping layouts, and process fly-through animations.

Proctor, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA. 2006 – 2007.

• Supported the Residential Life program as a dorm Proctor with duties including, developing a sense of community, 24/7 on-call availability, discussing personal or academic matters with students, helping students learn how to resolve problems and giving students access to their rooms when locked out.

• Trained in crisis intervention, counseling, first aid, CPR, conflict mediation, issues of diversity and multiculturalism, event programming, fire safety and disaster preparedness. 

Summer Camp Teacher, The Study Center, Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Legacy Campus, Plano, TX. 2000 – 2004.

• Taught courses in LEGO construction, robotics, programming, model rocketry, 3D animation and computer gaming to students ages 4 – 16. Trained and supervised assistant teachers.

CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS:

Participant, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics Conference Dallas, TX 2023

Explored how redesign of math lessons to promote active thinking and problem solving can promote student learning and engagement in educator-focussed workshops led by Building Thinking Classrooms author Dr. Peter Lijedahl and others.

Participant, REcharge Academy Santa Fe, NM 2022

Collaborated with educators, researchers, engineers, scientists, industry professionals and policy makers in a week-long conference and workshop to train educators in ways to increase student engagement and learning around renewable energy.

Presenter, Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT) Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching Dallas, TX 2019

Developed and presented an educator-focussed workshop entitled “Extreme STEM Engagement: Inventing STEM Lesson Plans that Bring the Excitement” that highlighted STEM lesson plans I developed drawing from my skydiving, bungee jumping and circus experiences and challenged teachers to create engaging STEM content from their own experiences.

Chaperone, Girls Advancing in STEM (GAINS) Conference, UPenn Campus, Philadelphia, PA, 2019

Co-chaperoned a Hockaday School field trip to the GAINS Conference. Guided girls and participated in educator workshops aimed at improving STEM education for women. 

Volunteer, Scouts STEMFest, UT Dallas Campus, Richardson, TX 2019

Facilitated STEM activity for Scouts, Cub Scouts, siblings and friends to build and test parachutes in a 6ft vertical wind tunnel.

Workshop Teacher, Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Design-Your-World Conference, SMU Campus, Dallas, TX, 2018

Taught workshop to 6th-8th grade girls using morse code and fiber optics as a model to describe how computers process and transmit digital signals.

Exhibitor, STEAM Carnival, Texas System of Educational Service Centers, White Settlement, TX 2018

Facilitated STEM activity for Ft. Worth ISD students to design, build and test parachutes in a 6ft vertical wind tunnel.

Invitational Panelist, Gulf Coast Power Association (GCPA) EmPOWERing Women Conference, Austin, TX, 2014

Young industry representative on the “Confidence Gap” panel at the first annual GCPA EmPOWERing Women Conference

Invitational Speaker and Panelist, Southwest Energy Summit, Sweetwater, TX 2014

Guest speaker introducing the Pecan Creek Energy Center project, designed to strengthen the west Texas electric grid and compliment local wind generation; panelist in the “Electrical Generation Outlook” forum

Invitational Speaker, Pharma-Ed Resources Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 2010

Present an independent study that takes a holistic view of “Cost Consideration in the Use of Disposables and Single Use Systems,” looking at environmental costs and health and safety risks in addition to purely financial cost to employ single-use systems in biopharmaceutical applications

Organizer and Assistant Teacher, Women Engineers and Scientists of Tomorrow (WEST) Conference, Claremont, CA. March 2005 and March 2006.

Hosted an engineering and science conference for over 200 at-risk high school girls. Assisted teaching hands-on workshops in computer-human interface in 2006 and digital engineering in 2005.

SKILLS:

Fluency in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint), Blackbaud (OnCampus) and Zoom.

Experience with AutoCAD, Matlab, C++, C#, Python, Java, Adobe Photoshop, Solidworks, 3DS Max, Unity, SketchUp, CoSpaces and Scratch.

Machine shop, wood shop, sheet metal shop and some welding experience.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Flying Trapeze Instructor and Trainer, Dallas Circus Center, Airborne Arts, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, etc. Dallas, TX, Costa Rica, Anthem/ Ovation / Quantum of the Seas. 2015 - present

Teach recreational flying trapeze classes and workshops and contracted internationally to train flying trapeze instructors. 

Wilderness Leader, Chaperone and Driver, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Austin, TX. 2017 and 2018

Twice chaperoned St. Stephen’s 8th grade week-long camping, hiking, and canoeing trip to Big Bend National Park.

Performer and Assistant GM, Valentine’s Mighty American Circus, TX, OK, CO, NM, AZ, NE, KS, Jan-May 2016

Performed aerial acts, sound technician, rigger, promoter, driver and box office manager for a three-ring traveling circus.

Swing Dance Instructor, PA, DC, NC, TN, GA, FL, TX. 2010 - 2018

Taught vintage social swing dancing, including Balboa, Charleston, East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop at dance studios, college campuses, workshops, intensives, competitions, exchanges and socials.

Wilderness Leader, Harvey Mudd College Pre-Orientation Backpacking Trip, Claremont, CA. 2004.

Co-leader for a group of 6 freshmen backpackers, supervising safety, cooking, and logistics on a 5-day wilderness hike through Yosemite National Park.