I earned my Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Seton Hill College in 1996. I worked in an environmental lab before returning to Seton Hill for courses in Education. I earned my teaching certificate and began my teaching career at Seton LaSalle High School in 1999.
In 2002 I began my career at Hopewell High School. I have taught various classes in the science department here, which include Earth Science, Physical Science, AP Chemistry, Chemistry 2, both Academic and Honors Chemistry, Science - 2 and Science - 3 (remedial levels of Chemistry and Physics).
I am also the sponsor of the VIP, Vikings Influencing Peers, club. This club focuses on educational positive outreach. This year we worked with Service Learning to bring the Rachel's Challenge assembly to our school. This was both powerful and emotional for our student body, and has resulted in various projects and student-led ideas to spread kindness throughout our school community.
I am currently the Gifted Coordinator for Hopewell's Encore Program. This is my third year in the position and I absolutely love it! I have attended PAGE conferences, PDE webinars, and other continuing education seminars to stay as current as I can within the gifted world. I have also attended workshops on how to write better GIEP's for my students. I am currently working towards a Masters Certificate of Gifted Education through Millersville University. The courses I have taken so far have focused on the social and emotional needs of gifted children, gifted curriculum, and the GIEP process. This semester I am taking the Psychology of the Gifted Child which I am finding directly impacts my interactions with our students. As I discuss the latest research with them it is interesting to get their views on the topics.