I have had a passion for literature and writing for as long as I can remember, and I have enjoyed sharing that passion with students since 2003. As a 2001 graduate of Washington College in Chestertown, MD, where I received a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in creative writing and Spanish, I took on work as a journalist for newspapers for two years after graduating before embarking on a teaching career. I am certified by the Maryland State Department of Education to teach secondary English to middle and high school students, and my years as an English teacher have offered many opportunities to make a positive impact on the lives of students. I have taught both middle and high school English for Baltimore County Public Schools, as well as middle school English for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and I am currently also a reading and writing instructor for Sylvan Learning. I enjoy motivating students to stretch their minds through discussion, writing, research, and collaborative activities, offering them the opportunity to dig deeper in considering varying perspectives and to make important new connections in their understanding of the world around them. I love seeing students' eyes light up when they grasp a new concept or one with which they have been struggling. I am currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Fairfield University. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, dancing, and just hanging out with my husband and four children.