Hello and welcome to a little information about me, your English II or Journalism teacher. I am so excited to be a part of the Fightin' Irish tradition! I am a teacher and also a life-long student/ learner. I am a very curious person and enjoy reading about and learning new concepts, philosophies, and ideas. One of my favorite pastimes is writing. I mainly write poetry and short stories, but I am currently working on a bit longer narrative that I may someday call a novel.
I became who I am today here in Springfield, Missouri, where I attended Kickapoo High School (go class of 2005!). I then attended the University of Missouri in Columbia (go Tigers!) where I received a Bachelor of Journalism degree. Upon graduating from Mizzou, I moved to St. Louis for an internship in advertising. However, after getting a little taste of the corporate world, I didn't feel very fulfilled with this environment. I decided to go back to school for my master's degree. I subsequently obtained a M.A. in Communication from the University of Missouri-St. Louis (2012), where I was privileged to work as a graduate teaching assistant with the undergraduate Communication Department. It is this stellar experience that I credit with cultivating my interest in teaching. Soon after graduating with my M.A. in Communication, I applied to study the art of teaching at Webster University in St. Louis. I graduated in 2014 with my M.A. in Teaching, and I obtained teaching certifications in secondary education English and middle school Language Arts. Among teaching, reading, and writing, my others interests include my lovely family. Even though we are a bit spread out all over the midwest (and stretching all the way to NYC where my youngest sister, who is a SCHS alum, attends NYU), we try to see each other as much as life permits. My hilarious nephew Arlo and precious niece Lydia (who currently reside in St. Louis) are pictured being too cute in the above left corner. I am an animal (and nature) lover; I enjoy spending as much time as I can outside, whether I am hiking, running, or enjoying the impeccable beauty of Table Rock Lake. |