About Me

I've been teaching, tutoring, and testing in a variety of educational settings professionally and privately for over 25 years. We've homeschooled all three of our children, now ages 23, 21, and 18.  I'm an enthusiastic and caring teacher who sets high expectations for both my students and myself.

Classes I've Taught Through the Years

• AP Language & Composition
• High School British Literature & Writing
• High School American Literature & Writing
• High School World Literature & Writing
• Junior High Language Arts, Black Mountain Homeschool, FAITH Tutorials
• Essentials, (English grammar & IEW-based writing), Classical Conversations
• High School Speech & Debate, FAITH Tutorials, Asheville, NC
• Senior English, Independence High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
• AP Literature & Composition, Independence High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
• Sophomore English, Independence High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
• Freshman English, Ranson Middle School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
• High School Newspaper, Independence High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
• SAT Prep, Private Tutor, Briarcliff Hall, Charlotte, NC
• ENG 101 & ENG 102 (Freshman Composition), Clemson University, while pursuing my M.A.

Academic Testing 
I’ve been administering the Woodcock Johnson IV Achievement test to WNC homeschoolers since 2010. This test provides useful academic feedback for parents while meeting the annual NC testing requirement. 

Tutoring

I tutor privately by the hour and have worked with a wide range of ages (elementary through college) helping students become better writers and readers. I’ve also helped with college and scholarship essays.

Formal Education
Clemson University, M.A. in English, magna cum laude
James Madison University, B.A. in English, minor in Secondary Education, summa cum laude

More About Me and Our Family

In addition to teaching, I also love flower and vegetable gardening, art, travel, local history, and genealogy. I began taking piano lessons at the start of 2022 and am loving the challenge of being a student again at 53. I'm originally from Buffalo, New York, but I've spent most of my life in the South. We love the mountains and have lived in Asheville over 20 years.

Briggs and I will be empty nesters this fall. He works as a finanical advisor with Edward Jones.

Rose (18) will graduate from homeschool high school this spring. She's still deciding where she wants to go to college.

Grace (23) lives in Charleston and is in an Occupational Therapy doctorate program at the Medical University of South Carolina.

David (21) is in Boone and will graduate from Appalachian State this spring with an undergraduate degree in Finance.

Christmas Tree Hunting 2023