Educator by day, adventurer by night
Two Passions for Impacting Kids
Through my experience in education, I have found multiple ways to impact students. I have always used sport as a way to connect with students. Through teaching and coaching, I am able to create a fun and comfortable environment to allow students to achieve goals, make connections, and push themselves. Below are some ways I have impacted kids through teaching or coaching.
Classroom
Lasting Impact
I have been teaching eight and ninth graders at DaVinci Academy since 2014. DaVinci Academy is a public charter school located in downtown Ogden. Our student population is quite diverse with students coming from a wide variety of backgrounds. DaVinci Academy is a title one school, so we have students on free and reduced lunch, but also have students whose parents teach at Weber State University, located in Ogden. Our school is an Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) school meaning we practice AVID strategies school-wide and have an AVID elective class for students. AVID is a program designed to help students who do not have the support at home learn organization and study skills, achieve in high school and attend college. Because of our focus on AVID DaVinci encourages students to take AP classes, dual enroll at Weber State or Ogden-Weber Technical College and promote college and technical school awareness.
My goal every year is to develop a great and lasting relationship with students and encourage academic growth. History and geography are two subjects I am passionate about. I love to share and pass that passion along to students in fun and creative lessons they will remember. During the year students participate in mock trials, whole class discussions and make connections to what we are learning to events happening in the world. Students use a variety of technologies such as feedback and summarizing through FlipGrid , collaborating with Google Docs, and participating in discussion with PearDeck. Along with technology I use traditional teaching techniques such as small group work, annotating and analyzing types of sources, and creating skits to demonstrate events or vocabulary terms. Because I do a lot small group work, think-pair-share, elbow partner work I have students already in groups to make these transitions easy. Through all this, I hope to instill a value of understanding a global world and global citizenship into my students, allowing them to practice the skills needed to create change and understand different perspectives.
Lacrosse
The Fast Game on Two Feet
I was introduced to lacrosse in eighth grade and have played in various leagues ever since. Very few people in DeWitt knew anything about lacrosse and even fewer knew how to play it, but I fell in love with the sport from the moment I started. Ever since I have been helping grow the game by playing and coaching in different cities and states. I first started coaching after I graduated high school in 2010 and have coached grades six through twelve. Currently, I coach at Weber High School. Through lacrosse, I found another way to impact, help, and teach children. This is one of my personal passions I am able to combine with my educational passions. I am always excited to see more lacrosse nets on fields and backyards and truly feel I am part of helping grow the sport of lacrosse. I hope my current, former, and future players will continue to be involved with and spread the sport.
Cross Country
Run until you can't and run some more
I started coaching cross country at DaVinci Academy in 2016. Having never ran cross country or track in high school I was worried I was in over my head. My first season was a great learning experience, as I was supported by two veteran coaches. As I coached and ran more myself I became more knowledgeable about the sport and have been able to pass this knowledge to my runners. We finished second in our division in 2016, third in 2017, and in 2018 we were crowned USSA state champions. Coaching and teaching the same kids is so much fun and rewarding to push them both inside and outside of the classroom. It always amazes me to watch runners progress and improve every week and every year. Cross country is a great sport that allows anyone from any walk of life to participate; all you need is a pair of shoes and a trail.