Teaching is my passion. For more than thirty-five years I have had the privilege of joining students on their academic journey. In 2009 I moved from San Diego, CA to Clearwater, FL where I taught reading and writing courses at St. Petersburg College.  I now work with primary, elementary and high school children from various homeschool communities in Tampa where I teach a wide range of subjects including literature, writing, reading and language arts.

Before moving to Florida, I taught in public and private schools, some wealthy and others poor. In 1992 I had the opportunity to teach in and help with the accreditation of a private school in Fairfax County, Virginia, which drew from an upper middle class neighborhood. In 2000 I was among a small group of teachers who opened a school for underprivileged children on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The extreme differences among socio-economic groups disclosed one common element for student learning: the importance of a safe, nurturing environment for all children.

My personal interests are the arts, travel and sports. From the performing arts, I especially enjoy classical ballet and Broadway plays. Since these arts are forms of storytelling, they connect with my love of literature. In the fine arts category, I appreciate works of the great masters from almost every time period because they connect me with other times and cultures, giving me an expanded world-view. In my travels I have toured world-renowned galleries such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in Massachusetts, the Rijks museum in Amsterdam and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

In addition to my interest in the arts, I have always had an insatiable desire to see the world. My curiosity and spirit of adventure have opened some exciting and unexpected doors for me. In England I had opportunities to teach, give several radio broadcasts on educational issues and observe a session of British Parliament. I also visited Mount Sinai and the great pyramids of Egypt, walked the ancient streets of Jerusalem, and participated in a Japanese tea ceremony in Kyoto. As part of a mission team, I traveled to major cities in Brazil, where I encountered some of the poorest of the poor. Each trip deepened my compassion for and my understanding of those less fortunate.  I also developed a tolerance and sensitivity to perspectives other than my own.

To be mentally engaged in the classroom, I have to be physically active outside the classroom. So I pursue running, swimming and biking. Sometimes I push myself beyond my comfort zone with a competitive race or a long-distance bike ride. Both sports and academics develop discipline and perseverance, qualities necessary for growth and self-realization.

Through personal and professional experiences I am convinced that learning cannot be confined to lessons in a classroom or pages in a textbook. Learning is meaningful when lessons integrate with real life experiences. The arts, travel and sports make for a a well- rounded curriculum.

Central to a very fulfilling life is my family. I have three children. Jacqueline is a senior scientist at a pharmaceutical company in NJ; Michael is a professor at St. Petersburg College and a doctoral student at the University of South Florida; James is a film student in the master’s program at Columbia University in NYC. From them I have learned to listen, encourage, believe and dream. Without these qualities teaching is merely a science, not an art. And now, the cycle begins again with my newborn grandson who instills in me a wonder of untold possibilities. As a teacher, I believe the same miracle of possibilities exists in each student. I also believe creating the right environment is necessary to coax hidden gifts and talents to the surface. Nevertheless, to witness the unfolding is more than gratifying; it is pure joy.