Kaizen, the word taped to the front of my computer, means continuous improvement through ongoing change. Kaizen captures the essence of my personal and educational philosophies. I hold all my students to high standards and I expect to see growth in each individual before they leave my classroom. Witnessing their growth motivates me to make changes to become a better teacher. I know I’m not there yet.

Teaching for nineteen years in small rural school districts in Wisconsin has offered me many opportunities to roll up my shirt sleeves and affect change that has an immediate impact on whole populations of students. Throughout my career I have taken advantage of my dual certification in English and Spanish and have taught children in grades 7-12 in both subjects. I am currently employed as a high school Spanish and English teacher in Mauston, Wisconsin. In the spring of 2009 I received a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship for innovative work with small learning communities, integrated curriculum, a peer mentoring program, a school-wide grade improvement program, a Holocaust education initiative, the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, and abundant community service work through Key Club International. In September 2009, I was named Wisconsin High School Teacher of the Year and a month later was chosen as Wisconsin’s 2010 representative to the National Teacher of the Year Program. As Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, I traveled from coast to coast both learning about and speaking on behalf of public education.

I am a first generation college graduate and I understand the challenge of making it despite the odds. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree from University Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1992 and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin in 2002. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Leadership, Policy and Change.

Over the years I have also taught credit and non-credit courses to adults enrolled at the local technical college. In the summer I teach summer school Spanish to children in grades kindergarten-5. I like to say I’ve taught all ages, cradle through college. I have served as an advisor of a number of extra-curricular activities including, forensics, Academic Decathlon, National Honor Society, Student Council, Spanish Club, and Key Club. I have a passion for service-learning and I believe that when you create opportunities for kids to do ‘good,’ they will. One of absolute highlights of my career was in 2006 when I was named Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Key Club Advisor of the Year. In addition to being a home club advisor, I currently serve as regional advisor for Southwestern Wisconsin. Aside from extra-curricular involvement, my latest endeavor is co-founding the first public charter school in my school district. iLEAD Charter School focuses on developing leadership and entrepreneurial skills through project-based, Common Core State Standards driven curriculum. I am excited to see the first iLEAD students walk through the doors in September 2011.