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.”

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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),