MA in Spanish Teaching
from Brigham Young University, GPA: 3.97, Provo UT (2003)
BA, cum laude, in Spanish
Teaching from Brigham Young University, GPA: 3.83, Provo UT (1998)
Includes valid 6-12 teaching certificate from
the state of Utah
BMus, cum laude, in
Music Composition from Brigham Young University, GPA: 3.83, Provo UT (1998)
High School Diploma, Olympus High School, Granite School District (1990). GPA: 3.83, Salt Lake City, UT (1990). Distinctions = Sterling Scholar (Music), Titan Service Award for Service to school, 8 passing AP scores.
Additional post graduate training in:
Modified Oral Proficiency Interviewing (MOPI)
- American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages
TPR-Storytelling in Spanish - Blaine Ray
Teaching languages in the 21st century (Annenberg)
Website design and applied technology (Member of Utah State Website Academy and Technology Integration Academy)
Information technology / computer training - proficient in most educationally-related software applications.
Professional Experience:
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, Joplin, Missouri (www.tjeffschool.org): Spanish teacher (8/06 - present). Spanish teacher of levels 1, 2, 3, 4, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature. Yearbook adviser & ACT / SAT preparation coordinator.
Churchill Jr. High School, Granite School District, Salt Lake City, Utah
: Spanish teacher (08/98 - 6/06). Spanish teacher of levels 1,
2, 3; Webmaster and coordinator of web-training; World Language department
chair; Yearbook adviser & Journalism teacher
Hablemos Academy, Salt Lake City, Utah. Instructor (2006)
Spanish Language Learning Center,
Salt Lake City UT: Instructor, Director of Curriculum (06/98 - 07/06). In charge of developing, instructing and supervising several levels of adult classes for highly-motivated adults
desiring to use Spanish in their work or travel.
Granite School District, Spanish Instructor for Community Education (6/93 - 6/98, Summers 2003-2005). Responsible for developing and teaching Spanish courses to children and adults (preschool-2nd grade, levels 1-6 for adults). Program grew from 2 classes (10 students total) to 8 courses (120 students total).
Kaplan Educational Center, Provo
UT: ACT prep Instructor (08/93 - 05/98). Worked with high school students
to prepare them for the ACT college entrance examination, teaching groups
and individuals test-taking skills
Professional musician (10/89 - present; self-employed). Professional trumpet performances in a variety
of styles, including classical, jazz, musical theater, brass quintet, solo,
cruise ship dance orchestra (Royal Viking Sun, Cunard cruise lines)
Educational tour guide for supervised travel-study in Spain (2001, 2003, 2006) and Costa Rica (2008)
Full time volunteer missionary (1991 -
1993). For the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Viña
del Mar, Chile (Spanish speaking)
Leadership Positions
President,
Utah State chapter of American Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (2002-2003)
Vice
President, Utah State chapter of American Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (2001-2002)
Granite District language articulation and curriculum chair (2005-2006)
District
Spanish liaison, Granite School District (2003-2006)
Utah State
test coordinator, National Spanish Exam (2002-2006)
School
Department chair, Churchill Jr. High School (2001-2006)
Utah State
textbook review committee (2003, 2004)
Member
of Executive board, Utah Foreign Language Association (2001-2004)
Member
of Excel Academy for teacher mentoring (2003-present)
Member
of Advisory Council (Southwest Conference on Language Teaching)
Current
member of ACTFL, SWCOLT, UFLA, AATSP, UMLA
Teacher-Mentor
to two new language teachers (Churchill Jr. High School: 2002, 2003)
Cooperating
Teacher / Supervisor for five student-teachers (Churchill Jr. High School
for Brigham Young University: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)
Team
Leader for Committee on School Accreditation (Churchill Jr. High School:
2003)
School
inservice: Training teachers to create web pages and use the Internet for
classroom teaching (Churchill Jr. High School: 2001-2006)
Eagle
Scout
Volunteer Translator, Ocotlán, Mexico: YouthLINC (Rotary Club service group), international humanitarian projects.
Publications /
Conference presentations:
Masters Thesis (2003): Vocabulary Acquisition through
Independent Reading at the Novice Level.
Presentation (2005, Utah Foreign Language Association Conference): Creating an online learning community for language teachers statewide.
Presentation (2005, Granite District Mid-level conference): Effective use of the 90-minute block for middle school.
Presentation (2004, Utah Foreign Language Association Conference): Introducing the National Spanish Exam: An authentic evaluation for changing times.
Presentation (2004, Southwestern Conference on Language
Teaching): Pasaporte: A Large-Scale approach to Oral assessment in the Foreign
Language Classroom
Presentation (2004, Utah Middle Level Association State
Conference): To FLEX and beyond: a new model for exploratory language classes
in middle school.
Presentation
(2003, Utah Foreign Language Association Conference): Pasaporte: A Large-Scale
approach to Oral assessment in the Foreign Language Classroom
Learn Spanish at Home, volume 2: a self-directed course
for adult language learners (1999, published by Spanish Language Learning
Center)
Awards:
Golden Apple award for top high school (9-12) educator in Southwest Missouri, greater Joplin (2009)
Excel Outstanding Educator, Granite School District (2003)
BestBuy Te@ch award recipient for outstanding use of technology in the classroom (2006)
Teacher of students winning 1st place (best overall school) in the Southwest Missouri regional language fair (2007, 2009)
Teacher of students winning 1st place (sweepstakes) award in the Utah state language fair (2006)
Who's Who in American Teachers(2006)
Recipient of teacher vitality award, Utah Foreign Language Association (2006)
Teacher of the Year 1st alternate, Granite School District
(2004)
Best of Utah award for educational presentation, Utah
Foreign Language Association (2003)
Power-User award for use of technology in classroom,
Granite School District (2002, 2003)
Churchill Outstanding Educator, Churchill Jr. High School
(1999)
Teacher of students scoring highest performance on National Spanish Exam in Missouri (2007, 2008, 2009)
Teacher of students scoring highest performance on National
Spanish Exam in Utah (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Teacher of students winning first place in Jr. High skit
competition, BYU language fair (2004, 2005, 2006)
3rd place, Jr. High Division, State Language fair (student award)
Teacher of students winning 1st place in school technology fair (Churchill Jr. High: 2005, 2006)
100% passing rate for students taking A.P. Spanish literature exam.
