about me
I grew up in Northern Virginia, ten minutes outside of Washington, DC. While attending Falls Church City public schools, I developed a wide variety of interests and academic strengths, finding a place in the award-winning theater department and cultivating a following with my singer/songwriter performances, playing piano, guitar, and singing. Graduating as one of the top twelve students of my class, I left George Mason High School with the strengthened desire to make the most of my next educational experience.
At James Madison University, I received my Bachelor of Arts in English and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
I was very active on campus during my undergraduate studies, contributing to the newspaper, serving as a director for the University Program Board, and holding a position as a student organization consultant for the JMU Outriggers. I continued as a Master of Arts in Teaching student at James Madison University and graduated with a GPA of 3.93.
Soon after graduation, I was hired at Franklin Middle School in Fairfax County as a 7th and 8th grade English teacher. In 2014, I was nominated for the county-wide Outstanding First Year Teacher award. In my three years at Franklin, I added to the school community, created and ran professional development, and contributed to the reputation of our well-established English department.
From there, I moved to Sofia, Bulgaria, to become an English Literature and Language teacher at the American College of Sofia. During my tenure at the College, I led the overhaul of the curriculum guide for the English department, created and delivered several PD workshops for both the American and Bulgarian faculty, and co-directed the College's new Academic Writing Center.
I currently work at Munich International School as a MYP/DP English Teacher (Grades 9-12). While at MIS, I have delivered high quality PD for all faculty, served as an IB Examiner for the HL Essay and Paper 2, and overseen the constant improvement of the Senior School English curriculum. Recently, I am most proud of mentoring my first student teacher.
I am not only a teacher, but a lifelong learner: I have been the only American in my Bulgarian improv class, I have discovered and attended educational conferences, I have organized a concert in a Sofia bar and I've taken swing dancing classes completely solo. The value of my combined experiences brings to any team creativity, enthusiasm and love for learning, a collaborative spirit, and a desire to foster an engaged and meaningful mindset in and outside the classroom.