This podcast for Pushing Boundaries pretty much sums up my educational philosophies and the changes I would like to see happen in our schools. When you try to play it you have to click on “Watch this video on YouTube.”

I graduated college the first time with a Creative Writing / History Degree and had no idea what I was going to do with it. I went back to school for my masters and spent three years as a movie theatre manager while doing so.
My favorite movie of all time is Field of Dreams. I have always loved baseball and even played when I was in high school and I loved the movie so much that I actually drove to Dyersville, Iowa, where they shot the film, with my friend and we spent three days playing baseball on the field.
I am still best friends with the teacher I did my student teaching under. We play poker every month with a bunch of friends and even went hiking for a week in the middle of nowhere AKA Wyoming.
I have Coulrophobia meaning I am deathly afraid of clowns. When I was little I watched Poltergeist where a clown attacks a little boy and read Stephen King's book It and I have been terrified ever since
I married my high school sweetheart. We met when I was a junior and she was a freshman.

2012-2016 Certification in Administrator Licensure

The Ohio State University

1997-2000 Certification in Gifted Education (grades 1-12)

The Ohio State University

1995-1997 Master of Arts – Secondary Social Studies Education

The Ohio State University

- Certified History, Political Science, Sociology/Psychology (grades 9-12).

- Certified Social Studies Comprehensive (grades 7-12).

1990-1994 Bachelor of Fine Arts – History and Creative Writing

Bowling Green State University

Publications Committee Member - National Association for Gifted Children
Member of the Gifted Coordinators of Central Ohio (past president)
Chair of the OAGC Coordinator Division - Ohio Association of Gifted Children
Member of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children
Regional Director - Destination Imagination Region 4
Gifted Advisory Council - Ohio Department of Education

2001-2011 National Board Certification

Successfully completed the National Board Certification process that included creating a six-part portfolio ranging from classroom practices to professional development, as well as four part testing portion

2018-present Bridges Out of Poverty Certified Trainer

Certified to be able to use the Bridges Out of Poverty framework to develop programs and policies to overcome poverty and create future stories for individuals, organizations, and communities.

2018-present SENG Model Parent Group Facilitator

Trained to be able to lead parent groups through the Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted Process and the book “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children”

2016-present P3 Design: Transdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning

Trains on the instructional strategies associated with TPBL, a model used to deliver instruction and develop a culture of learning that resonates with your community.

2015-present. Gifted Services Coordinator

Pickerington Local Schools

Coordinate the programming and professional development for gifted
Supervise teachers who are servicing gifted students
Run extra-curricular enrichment activities such as Future City Builders, Chess, WordMasters, Power of the Pen, Invention League, and NJHS
Coordinator with district office to make sure the gifted curriculum aligns with the goals of the district

2019-present Camp Instructor

Diligence & Delight Learner Center

Beijing, China

Taught Academic Writing and Vocabulary
Taught TED Talks and Writing I and II

2010-present Camp Instructor

Ohio Wesleyan Junior League Gifted Camp

Ohio Wesleyan University

Teach project-based classes to gifted students during a three week seminar.
Taught Elementary My Watson, Greatest Historical Mysteries, Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Debating Seuss, 39 Clues, Survivor

2012-2015 Gifted Coordinator

Reynoldsburg City Schools

Coordinated programs at the middle level as well as elementary
Worked with a parent advisory group to bring gifted to the high school
Made sure district was in compliance with the state’s requirements for gifted education
Provided opportunities for GIS and other teachers to receive professional development in gifted education
Developed Written Education Plans for all students receiving gifted services

2005-2012. Gifted Intervention Specialist

Gateway Gifted Academy/Quest/Ivy Program - Reynoldsburg Schools

Taught Social Studies to Grades 5-8
Taught Science 5 & 6
Created the Ivy Program, a one day a week pull-out program for gifted 3rd and 4th graders involved project-based curriculum
Helped to create the Gateway Gifted Academy
Organized workshops on gifted students for parents, teachers, and administrators

2004-2007. Trainer/Project Coordinator

Literary Curriculum Alignment Project

Coalition for Essential Schools – Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Training of K-12 teachers on the standards in all four core subject areas.
Ran workshops on vertical alignment, compacting curriculum, differentiated instruction, and formative assessments.
Taught teachers how to analyze data and reflect on this to drive instruction.

2002-2005. Facilitator

Christopher Program (grades 10th thru 12th)

Educational Council – Columbus, Ohio

Project-based, cross curricular humanities program 10th-12th grade.

1999-2002. Instructor

Summer Institute for the Gifted

Denison University – Granville, Ohio

Project-based classes included Art of Detection, Economics, Mock Trials (grades 4-6), Historical Mysteries, Creative Writing, Mock Trial, Introduction to Debate (grades 7-8), SAT Verbal Preparation, Famous Trials and Debates of the 20th Century (grades 9-11)

1997-2002. Gifted Intervention Specialist

Horizons Program (grades 7th and 8th)

Reynoldsburg Schools – Reynoldsburg, Ohio

7th grade Social Studies (Ancient History), 8th Grade Social Studies (Early American History), 9th Grade Social Studies (American History),

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