I am honored to have been a part of the Teravista Elementary School community since 2014. I have been married to my husband Walter for 22 years and we have one son. Zachary attends Texas State University on an Air Force ROTC Scholarship. He is majoring in Computer Science and minoring in French. When I am not in the classroom, I like to cook, garden, and read. In addition to teaching, I serve on the Advisory Board for the Texas Comprehensive Center, a nonprofit education research, development, and dissemination organization. I am a consultant for the National Writing Project and an officer in my professional teaching organization, the Association of Texas Professional Educators.
Certifications
National Board Certified Teacher, Early to Middle Years Literacy
Principal (EC-12)
Reading Specialist (EC-12)
Master Reading Teacher (EC-12)
English as a Second Language (EC-12)
English Language Arts (8-12)
Elementary Classroom Teacher (1-8)
Elementary German (1-8)
Education
Lamar University, Principal’s Certification Program
Angelo State University, M.Ed. Reading Specialist
University of Nevada, BA German Major, French Minor
Employment
PFC Hernandez Middle School, Round Rock, TX
Round Rock High School, Round Rock, TX
Snelson-Golden Middle School, Hinesville, GA
Colonel Johnston Elementary School, Fort Huachuca, AZ
Bradford Elementary School, San Angelo, TX
Tom Green County Supervisions Department, San Angelo, TX
United States Army, Military Intelligence
Professional Organizations
Association of Texas Professional Educators
Teach Plus
National Writing Project
Write For Texas
Veterans of Foreign Wars
MENSA
Publications
"Excellence in Education: Using Data to Elevate Teacher Preparation in Texas" 2018
"Smart Start: Mentoring for New Teachers Benefits Kids" 2018
"Prioritizing Education, Prioritizing Texas: Teachers' Views and Recommendation on School Funding in the Lone Star State" 2018
"Retention of Teachers of Color: A Critical Need for Action" 2018
"Texas Public Schools: The Choice is Clear" 2017
"Don't Teach to the Test. Just Teach." Association of Texas Professional Educators, 2015
Classroom Assessment: Principles and Practice for Effective Standards Based Instruction (6/e) by James McMillan (contributor)
The Classroom Management Book by Dr. Harry Wong (contributor)
Awards and Recognitions
2018 HEB Excellence in Education Leadership Finalist
2017 Teach Plus Texas Educational Policy Fellow
2017 Round Rock ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year
2017 HEB Excellence in Education Rising Star Finalist
2014 Association of Texas Professional Educators Educator of the Year
2013-2017 Veterans of Foreign Wars Citizenship Education Award
2012 Distinguished Carr Scholar for Angelo State University
2012 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year
1999 and 2000 Carr Academic Scholarship
1998 Innovations in Teaching Award
1992 Fulbright Scholarship
1991 Kurtz Memorial Scholarship
Presentations
"Retaining and Recruiting Teachers" 2017
"Differentiation in the Secondary Language Arts Classroom" 2017
"The Writing Workshop for Differentiated Learning" 2016
"Searching for Voice in Secondary English Language Learners" 2016
"Going Digital with Reading and Writing" 2015
"The Top 10 Things You Need to Know as a Teacher" 2015
"Engaging Reluctant Students with Reading, Writing, and Technology" 2015
"Exploring Expository Writing" 2015
"Honoring Language and Culture in Secondary Language Arts" 2014
"Expository Writing as a Genre Study" 2013
"Classroom Management for New Teachers" 2013
"STAAR and EOC Preparation for New Teachers" 2013
"What Teaching Is, What Teaching Isn't" 2013
"How to Be an Effective Teacher" 2012
"Writing to Learn" 2012
"Be an Agent of Change" 2012
"So, You are Going to be a Teacher..." 2012
"Engaging English Language Learners in the Writing Process" 2011
“Putting Cultural Voice into Narrative Writing” 2011
“Reading Intervention for Math Success” 2010
“Reaching At Risk Students: Strategies for Literacy in Secondary School” 2010
"Education to Reduce Recidivism among Young Offenders" 1999
National Board Certified Teacher, Early to Middle Years Literacy
Principal (EC-12)
Reading Specialist (EC-12)
Master Reading Teacher (EC-12)
English as a Second Language (EC-12)
English Language Arts (8-12)
Elementary Classroom Teacher (1-8)
Elementary German (1-8)
Education
Lamar University, Principal’s Certification Program
Angelo State University, M.Ed. Reading Specialist
University of Nevada, BA German Major, French Minor
Employment
PFC Hernandez Middle School, Round Rock, TX
Round Rock High School, Round Rock, TX
Snelson-Golden Middle School, Hinesville, GA
Colonel Johnston Elementary School, Fort Huachuca, AZ
Bradford Elementary School, San Angelo, TX
Tom Green County Supervisions Department, San Angelo, TX
United States Army, Military Intelligence
Professional Organizations
Association of Texas Professional Educators
Teach Plus
National Writing Project
Write For Texas
Veterans of Foreign Wars
MENSA
Publications
"Excellence in Education: Using Data to Elevate Teacher Preparation in Texas" 2018
"Smart Start: Mentoring for New Teachers Benefits Kids" 2018
"Prioritizing Education, Prioritizing Texas: Teachers' Views and Recommendation on School Funding in the Lone Star State" 2018
"Retention of Teachers of Color: A Critical Need for Action" 2018
"Texas Public Schools: The Choice is Clear" 2017
"Don't Teach to the Test. Just Teach." Association of Texas Professional Educators, 2015
Classroom Assessment: Principles and Practice for Effective Standards Based Instruction (6/e) by James McMillan (contributor)
The Classroom Management Book by Dr. Harry Wong (contributor)
Awards and Recognitions
2018 HEB Excellence in Education Leadership Finalist
2017 Teach Plus Texas Educational Policy Fellow
2017 Round Rock ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year
2017 HEB Excellence in Education Rising Star Finalist
2014 Association of Texas Professional Educators Educator of the Year
2013-2017 Veterans of Foreign Wars Citizenship Education Award
2012 Distinguished Carr Scholar for Angelo State University
2012 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year
1999 and 2000 Carr Academic Scholarship
1998 Innovations in Teaching Award
1992 Fulbright Scholarship
1991 Kurtz Memorial Scholarship
Presentations
"Retaining and Recruiting Teachers" 2017
"Differentiation in the Secondary Language Arts Classroom" 2017
"The Writing Workshop for Differentiated Learning" 2016
"Searching for Voice in Secondary English Language Learners" 2016
"Going Digital with Reading and Writing" 2015
"The Top 10 Things You Need to Know as a Teacher" 2015
"Engaging Reluctant Students with Reading, Writing, and Technology" 2015
"Exploring Expository Writing" 2015
"Honoring Language and Culture in Secondary Language Arts" 2014
"Expository Writing as a Genre Study" 2013
"Classroom Management for New Teachers" 2013
"STAAR and EOC Preparation for New Teachers" 2013
"What Teaching Is, What Teaching Isn't" 2013
"How to Be an Effective Teacher" 2012
"Writing to Learn" 2012
"Be an Agent of Change" 2012
"So, You are Going to be a Teacher..." 2012
"Engaging English Language Learners in the Writing Process" 2011
“Putting Cultural Voice into Narrative Writing” 2011
“Reading Intervention for Math Success” 2010
“Reaching At Risk Students: Strategies for Literacy in Secondary School” 2010
"Education to Reduce Recidivism among Young Offenders" 1999