About Me

I am a dedicated high school English teacher with 20 years of teaching experience. I am currently certified in English 6-12 through the State of Florida as well as through ABCTE (American Board for Teacher Certification Excellence). My certificate also includes a Gifted Endorsement. Both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees are in English Literature and were earned at Florida International University. I began my teaching career at St. John the Apostle Catholic School, where I taught Language Arts and Social Studies to grades 4-8 from 2003-2006, and I have been teaching at Hialeah Senior High since 2006 (Go T-breds!), where I have gained experience teaching English in various levels to grades 9-12. In addition to teaching, I also work as a part-time tutor for the Reading and Writing sections of the ACT and SAT.

Teaching Philosophy
My first love was the written word. I never leave the house without both a trusty book and journal tucked in my bag, and in my mind the two acts of reading and writing are undeniably linked. As a teacher, it is my goal to impart that knowledge to my students and aid them in becoming as skilled in reading as they are in writing.

Another important facet of my teaching philosophy is to show my students that writing is not a "one and done" activity but rather a process. Annie Lamott writes: "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something -- anything -- down on paper." As a writer myself, I've had to learn to trust the process (no easy feat!), so I know writing can be a challenge. However,  it is a challenge worth overcoming, since writing is a skill needed across the disciplines, regardless of what students decide as their career path. 

It is my goal that students will enter my classroom this year ready to take on that challenge. I recognize that today's world presents them with unique obstacles that may threaten their sense of security and even self. I hope that my classroom will serve as a safe environment for my students to explore themselves and learn more about the world and each other.