Teaching Methods and Philosophy

I have a strong dedication to student achievement and the ability to model life long learning through continually educating myself on my subject as well as on how to be a better teacher. My teaching philosophy boils down to this: know your students, meet them where they are and help them exceed their own expectations. I do this by listening to my studetns and working with them, be that during class, after school or during breaks. I see my job as not just that of a history teacher but as a person who teaches academic skills and civic-mindedness. I want my students to understand the historic context in which they live, but I also want them to be able to critically think and write about the themes and ideas that history offers to us all. My classes tend to be focused around two things group discussion and projects (both large and small). I provide activities and focus questions that ask students to interact with the information and take sides so that they can learn to empathize with the positions of people that they don’t know and may not agree with so as to encourage them to think beyond the boxes they live in.

Resume

	TEACHING EXPERIENCE
August 2011- Current	Lead Social Studies Teacher        Independence High School, Brentwood, CA                                Sole curriculum creator for all social studies classes taught on campus.  Teach students in an independent study environment working with a case load of students on a weekly basis. Work with students to facilitate learning of multiple subjects as well as academic study skills.  Provide students with academic counseling, social service resources and tutoring.  Participate on school Steering Committee and district Curriculum Council.  Wrote successful grant to increase size of school library.
August 2007- July 2011	U.S. History, World History, and Ethnic Studies Teacher        St. Patrick- St. Vincent High School, Vallejo, CA Teaching rigorous and civic minded social studies classes for freshmen,juniors and seniors with strong emphasis on helping every child succeed; Collaboration with department members to create and assess grade level specific goals and adherence to the standards; Facilitated professional development sessions on writing, and technology.
August 2001- July 2003 August 1999 - August 2001	Associate Program Director: ACCORD for Youth AmeriCorps        Volunteer Center of Alameda County, Oakland, CA Planned and Facilitated weekly trainings for groups of college-aged AmeriCorps Fellows being placed in local non-profit youth education programs; Provided on-going education related coaching and mentoring to Fellows throughout the program year. Service Learning Coordinator        Irvington High School, Fremont, CA Engaged high school youth in a wide variety of community service projects using service learning curricula; Collaborated with teachers to create and implement service learning projects for their classes; Provided seniors with advising on their community research projects and internships.
	ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
October 2011	Presenter:  Economic Resources to Teach U.S. History       Florida Council on Social Studies Annual Conference – St. Petersburg, FL Discussed different ways to bring economics topics and ideas into the teaching of U.S. History.  Provided participants with resources and curriculum ideas to enhance student understanding of economic impacts on history.
July 2010- August 2011	Co-Author of Teacher's Manual for US History Textbook and Advisory Board Member       Wohl Publishing – “Economic Episodes in American History” Textbook Creating assessment and other resource materials for a teacher's manual of a new supplimental textbook for U.S. History.  Collaborating closely with publisher and authors to provide useful teaching materials and review textbook chapters to ensure grade level appropriate language and content.
July 2007- April 2010	Federal Grant Reviewer: High School Mock Election and Poll Worker Programs        Federal Elections Assistance Commission – Help America Vote Act Grants Reviewed grant applications from schools requesting large scale funding for mock election programs and for college students as poll workers recruitment programs.  Provided grant assessment and critical but tactful feedback to applicants.
August 2003- August 2006	Moderate Means Program Coordinator        Contra Costa County Bar Association, Martinez, CA Managed all aspects of an equal-access-to-justice program that matched low-income clients with volunteer attorneys; Designed and facilitated annual 13-week attorney training program in the fields of family and housing law.
2011  May 2007 May 2001	EDUCATION National Board Certified Teacher – Candidate (Portfolio complete – awaiting testing) Teacher Credential, Clear Credential - Single Subject Social Studies Mills College, Oakland, CA. Bachelors of Arts Degree, Political Science San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA