Education
M.A., Ashland University
Scholarly Focus
- Rhetoric and Composition: Computers and Writing
- Electronic Discourse
- Composition Theory
- Eco-criticism, Eco-rhetoric, Eco-composition
Publications
Pegagogical Guides
Jane Eyre: A Teacher’s Guide . Penguin, New York. November 2007.
Two Years Before the Mast: A Teacher’s Guide . Penguin, New York. November 2006.
Scholarly Journals, Book Chapters & Editorials
“Benjamin Franklin Meets Preservice Methods Students: Foundations for Teaching High School English.” Ohio Journal of English Language Arts . Summer 2012.
“Teaching? Learning? There’s an App for That!” Education World . 2010.
“Going Mobile: A Cell of an Idea.” Detentionslip.org. 2010.
“Will This Be on the Test? Literacy and Assessment in High School English.” Adolescent Literacy in Perspective . Ohio Resource Center. 2005.
“The Value of Voice: Using Teaching and Writing to Create Peace,” A Curriculum of Peace, Virginia Monseau (Ed.), NCTE, April 2004.
Using Speak to Teach about Rape,” Strategies for Engaging Young Adult Readers: A Social Themes Approach, Jacqueline Glasgow (Ed.), Christopher-Gorden Publishers, March 2004.
“Speaking My Mind: Rethinking Standards Based Reform,” English Journal , March 2003.
“Multiple Genres and American Transcendentalism,” English Journal , November 2002.
“From Margins to Multicultural Mainstreams,” English Journal , May 2002.
“Portfolio for Writing a Short Story.” S tandards Based Activities with Scoring Rubrics . Jacqueline Glasgow (Ed.), Eye on Education, 2002.
“Laugh and Learn: Using Humor to Teach Tragedy,” English Journal , March 1999.
Professional Review
“Courage in the Classroom,” The English Journal , July 2008.
“Reaching All Learners: Teaching Beyond the Test,” The English Journal , May 2008.
“The Wonderful World of Words,” The English Journal , March 2008.
“The Great Gatsby and the Cacophony of the American Dream,” The English Journal , January 2008.
Achievements & Accolades
Writing & Editing
Bob Costas Writing Award
Four-time winner of the Youngstown State University Barbara Brothers Writing Award
Two-time winner of The National Council of Teachers of English co-editing award for an affiliate journal (OJELA)
Editor, “Tools for Teaching” in English Journal
Classroom Instruction
Martha Holden Jennings Master Teacher of Ohio
Ohio Secondary Language Arts Educator of the Year/Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts
Governor’s Award for Excellence
NCTE Teaching Excellence Award
High School Teacher of the Year Award, Boardman High School
Giant Eagle Class Act Award, WYTV News
Teen Ink Magazine National Award of Excellence
Mahoning County Educational Service Center Leadership Award
Bexley City Schools Star Thrower Award
State and National Presentations
“TECHNOLOGY, TELEVISION, AND THE POWER OF THE PEN: YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE AND THE WORLD AS WE WILL KNOW IT.” National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention. November 2012, Las Vegas.
“Metaphors of Technology Be With You. Web 2.0 and the Common Core Standards.” Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Spring Conference. March 2012, Columbus, Ohio.
“DYSTOPIAN DIVIDE: KEEPING YA LIT IN THE COMMON CORE CLASSROOM.” Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Spring Conference. March 2012, Columbus, Ohio.
“Critical Thinking and Creativity: The 21st Century English Classroom.” Florida Educational Technology Conference.” January 2012.
“Beyond Google: Newest Tools for 21st Century Skills.” Ohio Council of Teachers of English Spring Conference, 2011.
“Words, Words Words: Creative Research-Based Vocabulary Instruction” Ohio Council of Teachers of English Spring Conference, 2010.
“IPOD Applications.” E-Tech Ohio Conference, Columbus, February 2010.
“Podcasting in the Park: American Transcendentalism in Today’s World” National Council of Teachers of English Fall Convention, San Antonio, 2008.
“A Curriculum of Peace,” National Council of Teachers of English Fall Convention, Indianapolis, November 2004.
“Using YA Lit to Deal with Social Justice Issues,” National Council of Teachers of English Fall Convention, Indianapolis, November 2004.
Policy & Leadership
Ohio Master Teacher
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Ohio Department of Education Assessment Advisory Committee (2010-Present)
Ohio Department of Education Regional Common Core ELA Facilitator (2011-Present)
National Council of Teachers of English State PRESLM Coordinator (2006-Present)
Past-President, Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts
Past-President, Western Reserve Teachers of English
National Writing Project Teacher Consultant & Advisory Board Member 1998-Present
Bread Loaf School of English/Middlebury College Rural Teachers’ Network 1999-Present
Pearson Education Assessment Consultant (2010-Present)
Degrees, Credentials & Licensure
Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University, Bachelor’s of Science
Comprehensive English Language Arts Education, Kent State University, Bachelor’s of Science
Curriculum and Instruction, Ashland University, Master’s of Science
Permanent License/English, Journalism, Speech & Drama, Grades 7-12
Post-Graduate Work
Kent State University, Composition Studies
Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College: Vermont campus & University of Alaska Southeast, English Studies
Courses Taught
"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." ~John Dewey
- ENG 452: Methods for Teaching English Literature
- ENG 451: Methods for Teaching English Composition
- ENG 356: Young Adult Literature
- ENG 308J: Composition & Rhetoric II