Biography
I’m an educator at heart and by trade — someone who genuinely believes that teaching is the most powerful profession on the planet (yes, I will happily debate that at dinner parties). My career has spanned elementary classrooms to university lecture halls, where I’ve served as a classroom teacher, Math Instructional Coach, Department Head, Acting Assistant Principal, Professional Development Coordinator, professor, and clinical-practice supervisor for teacher candidates. I currently teach secondary math while partnering with universities to prepare future educators through coursework in instructional design, technology integration, classroom management, assessment, and grading practices. I’ve presented nationally at conferences including ISTE, CUE, NCTM, and FETC, sharing practical, classroom-tested strategies that help teachers thrive — not just survive — in today’s schools.
I’m also the author of Teach Like the Floor Is on Fire: Real Talk on Teacher Duties, Report Cards, and Revolutionizing Education for Today’s Student, a book rooted in real classroom grit, humor, and research-based reform. I’m certified across multiple educational technology platforms including Google, Canvas, Microsoft, and Apple, and my work has been recognized with two Congressional STEM Awards, a California Senate Educator Award, and a District Teacher and Leadership Award. While I’m grateful for the honors, I care far more about what happens inside classrooms every day — the light-bulb moments, the second chances, the courage it takes to try again, and the teachers who quietly change lives before lunch.
What fuels me most is mentoring new educators and helping them find their voice, confidence, and sense of purpose. I love challenging outdated systems, advocating for student-centered learning, and reminding teachers that curiosity, creativity, and relationships are the real engines of achievement. My ultimate goal is to inspire as many future educators as possible to enter the profession.
Professional Interests
- Professional learning communities and scalable school improvement models”
- Preparing and mentoring future teachers through clinically rich, practice-based coursework
- Inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, and student-centered instructional design
- Standards-based and mastery-based grading practices
- Equitable assessment systems and grading reform
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and inclusive classroom practices
- Educational technology integration and AI-supported instructional tools
- Teacher retention, early-career teacher support, and instructional coaching models
- Classroom culture, behavior systems, and relationship-driven teaching
- Mathematics pedagogy across K–12 and secondary settings
Education and Certifications
- Terminal Graduate Degree in Education — focused on instructional leadership, curriculum design, assessment, and teacher preparation
- Classroom Teaching Credentials — spanning elementary and secondary education
- Google Certified Educator — instructional design, digital workflows, and classroom integration
- Canvas Certified Trainer — learning management systems and blended learning
- Microsoft Certified Educator — productivity tools and classroom applications
- Apple Teacher Certified — creative technology integration and student engagement
- Instructional Coaching & Leadership Credentials — supporting teacher growth and school improvement
- Professional Development Trainer — national presenter on inquiry-based learning, grading reform, and student-centered practices
- Ongoing Advanced Training — UDL, equitable grading, mastery learning, and instructional technology integration
Courses
- Mathematics Integrative Design — instructional planning, assessment, and equity-focused math pedagogy
- SS (Single Subject) Integrated Design — secondary lesson design, UDL, and instructional theory
- Science Integrative Design — inquiry-based science methods and curriculum alignment
- Algebra I — secondary mathematics content and instructional strategies
- College Algebra & Trigonometry — foundational university mathematics for credential candidates
- Becoming a Teacher — professional identity, classroom readiness, and instructional foundations
- Design and Process of Teaching — lesson architecture, theory-to-practice connections
- Student Teaching A & B — supervision and coaching of teacher candidates in clinical practice
- Teaching Online — digital pedagogy, course design, and engagement strategies
- Computer Technology in the Classroom — instructional tech integration and digital literacy
- Multimedia & Interactive Technology — creative tools for teaching and learning
- Creating Clear Learning Targets / Assessment-Driven Instruction — curriculum coherence and mastery systems”