About Me: I grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere in the small state of Missouri. I was the first of my family to go to university, and I dreamt that I would one day be able to see the world. I am proud to say that I have accomplished a lot after leaving my small hometown, and I am very fortunate to have traveled and lived on three continents since leaving home – experiencing other cultures, learning their histories, and connecting with countless people.

Teaching Approach: My main job at KWYA is that of DP Coordinator. This means that I am a pedagogical leader, and I take a lot of guidance from the International Baccalaureate’s Approaches to Teaching and Learning. Fundamentally, a teacher needs to connect with every student and through that connection, the student has the best opportunity to grow. At the end of the day, what matters is not whether a student has memorized the Magna Carta or they have sung the name of every emperor, what matters is that they can exercise the skills they need to succeed in a challenging and increasingly globalized world. In my class, that means a student exercises 21^st Century research skills, communicates their thoughts and debates fundamental issues, and develops critical thinking skills that they will use to succeed in high school, tertiary education, and beyond. To me, Humanities provides a student with an understanding of the world around them, the societies and cultures they interact with, and how the past, present, and future are intimately linked. This is why I teach, to see my students grow in their understanding of humanity as global citizens, who appreciate where they are from and where they will go next.