"Over 25 years of teaching experience has allowed me to develop strong historical content knowledge, the ability to communicate with all types of students, and a passion to help others connect to the story of history. While students may learn the facts of history through "flash cards", a true understanding of the subject requires a model for context. I love to help students learn to reason effectively.

I have taught history in a high school classroom setting for over 25 years, teaching students as young as 5th grade to upper classmen. Advanced Placement classes for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors make up the majority of my classroom experience. Teaching in a small private school has also allowed me the opportunity to teach honors English courses several times. As an AP grader, I also have four years experience in rating student essays in AP European History. Over my four years as a grader, I have scored the DBQ, Long Essay, and Short Answer Essay formats. These are also the formats for the AP US History course. Though my teaching career has included world history courses, and AP US History, the last ten years have focused on AP European, AP US Government and Politics, and honors economics.

Tutoring is part of my job, as I work with students on a group, but also individual basis as needed. My tutoring experience is a mix of volunteer tutoring with younger children, an online IB student who needed assistance with research and writing, and coaching students with study skills. With my own students, we work outside of class during optional study sessions to prepare for the AP Exam. I find that students often struggle most not with knowing content, but with understanding what is being asked of them on the exam or test. I love to help students gain confidence in this area as it has benefits for all future learning, not just the AP exam." less...