After twenty years teaching middle and high schoolers to improve their reading and writing skills, I have learned that each one of my students has a unique style of engaging with learning and even now, I continue to discover new coaching and mastery strategies from my students. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education (Writing emphasis) from the University of Arizona and then received a Master's of Arts in Language, Reading, and Culture, (Adolescent literacy emphasis) from the same university. I left college with a small toolbag of strategies to offer students literacy experiences but after teaching hundreds of diverse learners, I now know that the best way to help kids move to the next literacy level is to listen, get to know them as individuals and as students, to observe their current talents and challenges, and to work as a partnership of student, family, school, and tutor to find the best strategies to coach them toward greater success and greater confidence as readers and writers. My personal belief is that EVERY student can grow and master reading and writing so that literacy becomes a positive lifelong habit, besides being an important tool to get them through school. Leading students to better engagement and success with academic topics and eventual pleasure in their reading and writing is my ultimate goal for each learner. It is my promise that I will focus one-on-one with individual students tailoring a coaching support program to target their specific struggles. I will offer flexible strategies, alternative samples and tips, and drill down the feedback and student reflection to better serve their unique situation. I am confident that I can help them to taste success and then see the confidence soar. I feel privileged to work with kids. Outside of work, I am, of course, a passionate reader/writer, but also enjoy biking, hiking, kayaking, and college football!