My Philosophy and Approach

After 33 years in the classroom, I have learned a thing or two about how to motivate students. Whether asking them to learn about symbolism or just turn in their assignments, I’ve honed an approach that is effective and grounded in mentorship and teaching. I feel responsible for their process and improvement. I take great pride in seeing a student go from “meh” and slightly interested to excited and seeking growth.

During these many years, I’ve come to understand what is often “missing” from the college application process is any demonstrable amount of self-discovery. Students, overwhelmingly, enter the process as an accounting of accomplishment rather than a multi-month period of growth and learning – about career and goals and choices and the self.

I’d like to work with students to teach and mentor, not simply to advise. You’d hire me to guide and motivate and teach not to merely strategize and “game” an acceptance.

My Credentials and Related Classroom Experience

I’ve taught over 9,000 students, and I’ve taught a unit on college applications in my Comp. 1 course for 9 years. I’ve taught over 25 sections of 17-year-olds, in the fall of their senior year, how to navigate the Common App., including their personal statement (section 6).

I earned my BA from Davidson in English, and, shortly thereafter, I earned an MA in Writing from DePaul. Then I became a teacher in Naperville, IL, where I was hired, specifically, to teach Creative Writing, which I did for eight years before moving into my mid-career as a high school administrator for York, SCNHS, and MWHS. Along the way I earned a PhD in Policy Analysis from UIC.

When I returned to teaching full time, I taught AP English Lit. and English Lang. and Comp. 1 for college credit (in a dual credit setting). I’ve also taught Essay Writing, among other courses, and I made the non-fiction essay a part of my curriculum for students in English 2, English 3, and Journalism.

My own children have attended the University of Illinois, Penn State, the University of Maryland, Davidson, and Yale.