My goal is to teach children to love learning.

- B.A. from Cornell College in Elementary Education and Mathematics (2001) cum laude.
- Further education from the Grant Wood AEA in helping students with diabetes succeed in school, crisis prevention interventions, special education law, and using RTI strategies to help students with learning disabilities.

Professional Education Experience - Paraeducator; Behavior Learning Center; Grant Wood Area Education Agency; Iowa City, IA; August 2004 - Present.  During this assignment, I am:
    * Creating and enacting behavior management techniques for students with level III behavior disabilities.
    * Individually teaching students in mathematics, English, physical education, and a variety of social studies and science subjects.
    * Leading small groups and facilitating students in economics.
    * Collaborating with other staff for student welfare.

- Paraeducator; Tanager Shelter School; Grant Wood Area Education Agency;  Cedar Rapids, IA; March 2004 - July 2004.  During this assignment, I:
    * Helped set and enacted behavior management guidelines.
    * Created and taught lessons and units on mathematics, social studies, and other subjects.
    * Collaborated with other teachers and Shelter staff.

- Substitute Teacher for Lisbon, College Community, and Cedar Rapids Community School Districts; September 2001 - March 2004.
    Assignments included long term (>50 days) substitution in Lisbon Elementary/Middle School; Resource Room teacher for third through sixth grade students.  During this assignment, I:
    * Created and taught reading, spelling, writing, and mathematics lessons and units.
    * Worked with individuals and small groups on mathematics and language arts skills.
    * Was actively involved with the classroom teacher, parents, and other teachers and administrators.

- Student Teaching; Washington Elementary School, Mount Vernon, IA; Third Grade; February - April 2001.  During this assignment, I:
    * Created and taught units in division, poetry, novel reading, castles, and simple machines.
    * Instructed reading, mathematics, social studies, science, and other skills in whole group, small group, and individual settings.
    * Conferenced, collaborated, and consulted with parents, teachers, and other professionals.

Additional Education Experience

- Community Volunteer for Head Start Program; Osada Family Resource Center, Cedar Rapids, IA; November 2001 - present.  During this activity, I am:
    * Working with individuals and small groups towards cognitive and affective goals.
    * Modeling behavior patterns cooperatively with classroom instructors.

- Sunday School Teacher and Classroom Coordinator; Living Water UMC, Cedar Rapids, IA; September 2002 - present.  During this activity, I am:
    * Teaching and creating curriculum for students kindergarten through 5th grade (most often 3rd-5th grade)
    * Coordinating instructors for all classrooms.

Other Work Experience

- Car detailer and touch-up artist; Chapman Mobile Detailing, Cedar Rapids, IA; Summer 2003.  During this assignment, I:
    * Interacted well with customers and staff.
    * Used problem solving skills and attention to detail regularly.

- Math Tutor; Cornell College - Math Department; 2000- 2001.  During this assignment, I:
    * Tutored college and high school students in algebra, calculus, and statistics.
    * Practiced working with individuals and small groups.

- Interlibrary Loan Office Worker; Cornell College - Cole Library; 1998 - 2000.  During this assignment, I:
    * Learned and used library technology.
    * Used problem solving skills extensively.