I attended college at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where I entered college as a music major. However, I changed my mind before classes even started, deciding I would prefer smaller classes when I taught. At Ohio University my classes included Journalism, Speech & Communications, and Music Theories, as well as English and Education courses. I was a founding member of the Athens chapter of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, where I served as Vice-President for two years. I was also an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity for Women and the Editor for the group for one year. I was a member of the award winning local chapter of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, completing more than 50 hours of service in one quarter and organizing a community book drive for Reading is Fundamental Week the following. My final year at OU, the English department added a student chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English, whcih I attended. Finally, I was a two year member of the Ohio University Marching 110
Following college I remained in Athens to stay close to my husband (then boyfriend) and taught at Trimble High School in Glouster, Ohio for two years. During my first year the school followed a block schedule with completely integrated classrooms: students who could not read were in classes with my top scholars. The second year we reverted to a "normal" schedule and classes were somewhat divided by ability. I taught all levels of Freshman English at this school, and some of the lowest achieving groups were co-taught with a special education teacher, Timothy Weed. I took over the Speech class both years and the Poetry & Drama class one year. My first year I created two classes: Contemporary Novels and Publications. I was able to continue teaching Publications my second year, but Contemporary Novels unfortunately would not fit in my schedule. In addition to my classroom responsibilities, I served as Yearbook, Newspaper, Drama Club adviser, and I coordinate the Video Announcements daily for my entire time at Trimble.
I am currently the moderator for the B-Hive newspaper and teach 9th and 12th grade English, Journalism, and Research & Study Skills.
Other information about me: In the summer of 2004 I married my high school sweetheart, Brandon Lawson, and then moved to Charleston on August 4th, only a few days before school began. My younger sister Vanessa, who remains one of my best friends, moved to St. Kitts to the International University of Nursing in early September. When I'm not at school or grading papers (which is rare), I am out on the beach, reading a book, or online. I volunteer as an essay editor for the Scribbulus project on The Leaky Cauldron, to be released in March. (However, I did not edit the first issue: those were edited prior to me joining the staff.) My favorite websites that do something other than connect me to old friends usually revolve around my love for the Harry Potter series. |
