Vita

Classroom Teacher - San Marcos High School
8/2004 - present

My Academic English I and II classes are designed to meet the needs of struggling readers and writers. I have adapted ideas from Kyleen Beers and Reading Apprenticeship to teach core reading comprehension skills - and seen test scores rise dramatically. I've also created strategies to help students develop TAKS-style paragraphs and adapted Jane Schafer techniques to help them write higher-level, AP-style compositions.

Classroom Teacher - New Braunfels High School
8/2002 to 5/2004

At New Braunfels, my students had access to sufficient technologies to revise essays using Microsoft Word and complete a cross-curricular, real-problem research unit that teaches the three appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos) through guided WebQuest research, PowerPoint, and iMovie (the last incorporates story-telling skills). As a first-year UIL Spelling Coordinator, one of my students placed fifth at District with a score of 91. I served on NBISD's Vertical Team and have completed NBISD's Phase II Technology Proficiency. Had I remained at NBHS, I would have achieved Phase III in the fall of 2004.

Professor of Communication and Composition - Texas Lutheran University
8/2001 to 5/2002

In August 2001, after 14 years of freelance journalism, Texas Lutheran University invited me to teach their freshman composition course. Freshman composition re-teaches the core skills students learn in high school. AT TLU, I was solely responsible for designing and teaching first and second semester introductory composition courses. GEC 131 & 132 include writing, reading, research, and public speaking components.

(Freelance Journalist & Continuing Education Teacher)
(1987 - 2001)

In addition to publishing over 1000 times in the mainstream press, I taught a variety of classes at universities and for various writing organizations. See "Non-Traditional Teaching Experience" for details.

Graduate Teaching Assistant - Southwest Texas State University
8/1985 to 12/1987

At SWT, I was solely responsible for teaching the introductory composition course. At the time, English 1300 included writing, reading, grammar, and punctuation. The course is, essentially, a recap of the High School Language Arts experience.

San Marcos CISD Public School Volunteer
1996 - 2000

Fall, 1996 - Designed and taught a writing class under the supervision of English instructor Ramona Welsh at San Marcos' Alternative Education Center, Rebound.

1997-98 - Read stories & directed educational games with Robin Reasoner's second grade class at De Zavala Elementary.

1998-99 - Read stories & directed educational games with Emily Hoffman's third grade class at De Zavala Elementary.

Designed and taught a writing class for selected fourth-grade students under the supervision of GT instructor, Carol Fernandez at De Zavala Elementary.

Designed and taught a journalism class for GT students at Hernandez Intermediate under the supervision of Brenda Butler. Under my guidance, several of the students published articles in the San Antonio Express-News.

1999-2000 - Read stories & directed educational games with Alice Castillo's fourth grade class at De Zavala Elementary.

Adult Learning Instructor - City of San Marcos
5/1985 to 8/1985

I initiated the Adult Learning Program at the Public Library, designing diagnostic activities and choosing or creating individual programs of instruction as required by each student.

Freelance Instructor
1993 to 2001

During my years as a full-time writer, I've designed and taught workshops for various organizations, such as the University of Texas (Austin), Southwest Texas State University, Texas Lutheran University, the San Marcos Seniors Organization, and many others.