"I have 12 years of experience teaching English, and my specialty is Exceptional Student Education with a focus on reading intervention. I recently taught high school English, and I have taught dual-enrollment, composition classes as well. Before that, I was a middle school English teacher. I have tutored several students outside of school; my clients range in age from 3rd grade to 9th grade. Some have specific learning disabilities while others are gifted. It is my desire to leave the classroom and tutor full-time because no learning experience is as meaningful as the 1:1 ratio tutoring provides.

I found my calling when I was asked to move from a co-teaching position to a full-time reading coach. I felt panicked and under qualified, and I immediately petitioned for more training. My administration responded; I was trained in the Wilson Reading System which provides phonics-based instruction in a structured, systematic way. Because Wilson does not address the needs of dyslexic and otherwise learning-disabled students, I became a tireless advocate always seeking ways to deliver content in an understandable manner that enables students to acquire skills regardless of ability. I found this approach successful and have been able to teach functionally illiterate 7th and 8th graders how to read chapter books of their choosing independently. My approach was so successful that I was asked to train my county's elementary school teachers in a 2-day seminar and then oversee implementation of the system the subsequent year.

Struggling students face the very real danger of internalizing failure, and without targeted intervention, they will give up on themselves and school. Watching the transformation in my students as they morphed from low self-esteem pupils to confident, eager readers was a profound experience. I've reached the point in my career that no other job matters as much as teaching people how to read.

I majored in creative writing with honors at FSU with a minor in psychology. I have a Masters in Tea" less...