| Education and Certification |
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Bachelor of Arts in Science Education, Univ. of Oklahoma, Overall GPA: 3.46 |
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Lifetime Teaching Certification in Secondary Math and Sciences |
| Vocational Education |
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Escuela de Maya, Antigua, Guatemala: School for Language Study |
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National Outdoor Leadership School, Lander, Wyoming: Semester course in Outdoor Education |
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Southwest Technical College, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Auto Mechanics Degree |
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Boulder Outdoor Survival School, Utah: Intensive training in primitive outdoor skills and survival |
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Centro Linguistico, Quito, Ecuador: School for language studies and foreign exchange living |
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Chapman School of Seamanship, Stuart, Florida: Course included ocean navigation, sailing and boat handling |
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Oklahoma School of Photography, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Commercial Photography Training |
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Reis Biological Station, Missouri: Field Biology Techniques |
| Teaching Experience |
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8 years public school experience (Waltrip High School and W.I. Stevenson Middle School-Houston Independent School District) |
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Taught Biology, Earth Science, Algebra, Physical Science, Middle School Science and Math |
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Camp Counseling-13 summers, trek leader, instructor in field sports, nature, rock climbing, backpacking, and orienteering |
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Responsible for the safety of large numbers of campers in an outdoor setting. |
| Coaching |
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Head Soccer Coach and Cross Country Coach at Waltrip High School, Assistant Coach for Noble High School tennis team, instructor of tennis at Oklahoma City Community College |
| Travel |
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Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador; Nine months of backcountry travel and language study |
| Outdoor Recreation |
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Extensive experience backpacking, cross-country bike touring, white-water canoeing, mountaineering, rock climbing/rappelling, spelunking, and jungle trekking |
| Awards and Honors |
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Eagle Scout |
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Honor Student, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX |
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Future Teacher Scholarship Recipient |
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President's Honor Roll, Central State University, Oklahoma |
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Outstanding College Students of America |
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Alpha Beta Kappa Honor Student, Chapman School, Florida |
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Who's Who Among America's Teachers |
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Tandy Technology Scholar's Outstanding Teacher 1996-1997 |
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Coca-Cola Coach of the Year, Cross-Country 1999 |
| Teaching Accomplishments |
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Highly evaluated classroom teacher in public school |
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Founded and sponsored school outdoor clubs which had field trips of canoeing, offshore fishing, rock climbing, camping, and environmental projects |
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Planned, successfully raised funds for, and led two 12-day backpacking treks for Waltrip High School; recruited parent assistance and raised $2,000 from the local community |
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Sponsored and coordinated Odyssey of the Mind (a creative problem-solving academic competition). Handled administrative duties for the OM Program, including organization of in-school tournaments and recruitment of parent coaches. Teams advanced to the state tournament every year |
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UIL Academic Coordinator for Waltrip High School. Waltrip team won district championship |
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Varsity soccer and cross-country coach. Soccer team advanced to playoffs each year and went to the 4th round of state in 1999. Cross-country teams won district championships |
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NHS (National Honor Society) Sponsor. Handled all administrative tasks, planned banquets, coordinated service projects, such as a house painting project for a disabled veteran and his wife |
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Chess Coach. The Waltrip chess team Placed 5th and 2nd in state tournaments |
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Tutoring (at school and in the community); have provided individualized tutoring in biology, middle and high school math, standardized test preparation, and ESL |
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| Education and Certification |
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Sam Houston State University, B.A. in English, Sociology Minor, G.P.A. 3.12, graduated in top quarter |
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University of Houston, supplemental education in Secondary Reading & Assessment, G.P.A. 4.00; |
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Lifetime Teaching Certifications in Secondary English and Reading |
| Qualifications and Skills |
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Fluent in verbal and written Spanish |
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Consistent "Exceeds/Proficient" Appraisals in Public Schools |
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Knowledgeable in experiential & hands-on learning approaches |
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Detail-oriented and conscientious |
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Computer literate |
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Creative, insightful, and motivational teaching strategies |
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Experience with special needs students and legal issues |
| Related Work Experience |
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4 years owner, co-founder, and teacher at Houston Outdoor Learning Academy |
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8 years of public school experience-Campbell Middle School, Cy-Fair I.S.D., Edison Middle School and W.I. Stevenson Middle School in Houston I.S.D. and Kenneth White Junior High in Mission Consolidated I.S.D. in Mission, Texas. |
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Currently teaching 6th - 12th Grade. All subjects. |
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Taught 7th & 8th Grade Language Arts, Reading, and English as a Second Language |
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Tutoring, Simply Tutoring, Inc.
Tutored special needs/regular students in grades K-12 in Language Arts, Math, Test-Taking, Study Skills, and Time Management |
| Personal Interests and Goals |
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Outdoor Education/Environmental Awareness Issues |
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Chess/Critical Thinking & Academic Pursuits |
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Urban Sociology/Population Studies |
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Freelance Magazine/Website Writing |
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Pursuit of Wilderness Medicine/SCUBA Certification |
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World Travel/Photography |
| Teaching Accomplishments |
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Served as Lead Teacher in H.I.S.D. |
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Red Cross certified in CPR and First Aid |
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Served as Language Arts Chair at Stevenson Middle School; coordinated training and department projects to improve student performance in reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills |
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Assisted with Drama Club, chess tournaments, Odyssey of the Mind tournaments, "Art Car" projects, Writers in Schools Initiative, and Houston International Festival Curriculum activities |
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Coached girls at-risk soccer team, co-sponsored Chess Club, and sponsored an English as a Second Language Club; judged UIL poetry, speech and debate competitions |
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Voluntarily provided tutorials before and after school, at lunch, and on Saturdays for students behind grade level, at risk of failing, in need of test-taking strategies, confidence building, one-on-one encouragement, and mentoring (ongoing commitment) |
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Presented workshops at the Attention Deficit Disorder Parental Support Group of Montgomery County and at Simply Tutoring Share and Support Meetings, providing general overviews of the disorder. Offered practical advice on time management/organizational strategies, as well as hands-on teaching ideas, and capturing reluctant learners with fun learning activities |
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Acquired training in Kagan Cooperative Learning, The 4-Mat System, Michael Eaton, Neuhaus Center's Balanced Approach to Reading and Scientific Spelling, and numerous other professional development opportunities |
| Favorite Saying |
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"You can't make footprints in the sands of time if you are sitting on your butt, and who wants to make butt prints in the sands of time."
- Bob Moawad |
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