I am a STEM and Career Technical Education teacher at Folsom Middle School, where I teach Robotics and Computer Science: Physical Computing. My goal is to help students learn through design, engineering, and hands-on problem solving.

Teaching Philosophy

Before teaching STEM, I taught English and worked extensively with curriculum design, assessment, and student engagement. That background shapes how I structure learning today. Clear expectations, meaningful work, and student reflection matter just as much as technical skills.

​My teaching is grounded in research and focuses on learning through authentic tasks. Students learn best when they are designing, building, testing, and improving real things.

In my classroom, struggle is expected and supported. Mistakes are treated as part of the learning process, not as failure. Students are encouraged to collaborate, think critically, and take ownership of their work.

The goal is not just to build robots or write code, but to develop problem solvers who can explain their thinking and persist through challenges.
​
Background and Experience

I hold a Doctorate in Education and my research focused on student engagement, agency, and learning through meaningful, real-world tasks. The strategies used in class are informed by that research and by best practices in STEM and Career Technical Education.

My classroom blends academic thinking with practical application, helping students see how what they learn connects to future opportunities.

Original Publications

A Note for Families
Middle school is a time for exploration. These courses are designed to give students exposure to engineering and computing while building confidence and curiosity.
​
Families do not need prior STEM experience to support their students. Asking questions, encouraging persistence, and celebrating growth all make a difference.