After graduating from Gettysburg College with a bachelor's degree in history and secondary social studies certification, I gained my first practical field experiences as a social studies high school teacher, which is where my current research interests began influencing my educational philosophy.
Two elements of that philosophy, service and philanthropy, led me to explore the realm of higher education administration where I served as a development officer, learning valuable lessons about stakeholder relations and effective fundraising.
Desiring a return to the classroom, I served for two years in a full-time appointment as a faculty member of the Gettysburg College Education Department. There I redesigned the curriculum of and taught two courses, Social Foundations of Education and Social Studies Methods.
Exposed to arts-based teaching while on Gettysburg College's faculty I became the Manager of Training Services for the Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning. My work there included everything from web content development, management of online services, curriculum development, implementation of the Artful Learning™ model at sites across the country, consultant management, college course instruction, to budget management.
Excited once again to be in a secondary classroom, my current research interests include the relationship between student performance and technology, and the impact of a grade specific 'academy' on student performance. With a bevy of publications, presentations, trainings and workshops, I remain at the fore-front of current research and practice in education.
My professional memberships include:
- Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, member since 2002 - 2008
- Middle States Council for the Social Studies, 2000 – 2002
- National Council for the Social Studies, 1999 – 2002, 2006 – present
- National Social Studies Supervisors Association, 2009
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2006 - present
- State of Pennsylvania Teaching Certificates, Secondary Social Studies, 1999 - present
