"Every day I attempt to inspire my American History students through creative and innovative lessons. I utilize the Smart Notebook program through Smart Board technology, the interactive Notebook, and various hands on projects and activities. I spend a great deal of time after school tutoring my Advanced Placement students on improving their writing skills, interpreting historical themes and Document Based Questions, and incorporating primary sources into their writing assignments.

I have a bachelors degree in History with an emphasis on American History and I received the Social Studies Education Certification for Secondary Education from the State University College at Buffalo. I am a life long learner who thrives on 'bringing history alive' to my students. While the North Carolina American History curriculum does require an extent of memorization of specific individuals, vocabulary, and time periods, I attempt to focus on major themes and the cause and effects of these themes. I also place emphasis on how the past has effected the present and connect historical events to concepts my students can relate to today. I teach in a very low socioeconomic area and I am proud to say that I have had a very high success rate of my students passing the state exam over the past four years. My High School has eliminated every Advanced Placement course from our curriculum with the exception of the AP United States History class. My Principal has continued to offer this course due to my test results. While no other AP course had a single student pass the Advanced Placement exam last spring, I had four out of my eight students pass the exam and receive college credit as a High School student. A fifth student is reviewing with me throughout the spring and I am confident she will pass this exam when she retakes it in May.

I am certified to teach High School American History, United States Government, Native American Studies, World Geography, Civics and Economics, and Advanced Placement United States Histor" less...