About The Website
In 2019, I submitted a manuscript for publication in a journal, and it got ripped to pieces by the reviewers.
So I decided to start a website and publish that piece myself, along with other classroom practices, classroom stories, ideas, and opinions. I hoped to provide a look into the real mind and classroom of a public school teacher at a time when so much of what was shared about us was negative, demeaning, and untrue.
In 2020, I also began writing heavily about pandemic-related issues and online teaching and learning. There were so many more questions than answers during that uncertain time, and I wanted to contribute positively (and factually) to the discussion. I also added all of the math instructional videos I had developed for my flipped classroom to the site in the hopes that they could help those teaching or learning math online during the pandemic.
In 2023, I also began documenting my journey and learning as I tried to Build A Thinking Classroom in Mathematics. As that framework for teaching mathematics sweeps the globe, I hoped to provide some tangible advice and experiences to help bring it to life for others trying to Build Thinking Classrooms of their own.
So I decided to start a website and publish that piece myself, along with other classroom practices, classroom stories, ideas, and opinions. I hoped to provide a look into the real mind and classroom of a public school teacher at a time when so much of what was shared about us was negative, demeaning, and untrue.
In 2020, I also began writing heavily about pandemic-related issues and online teaching and learning. There were so many more questions than answers during that uncertain time, and I wanted to contribute positively (and factually) to the discussion. I also added all of the math instructional videos I had developed for my flipped classroom to the site in the hopes that they could help those teaching or learning math online during the pandemic.
In 2023, I also began documenting my journey and learning as I tried to Build A Thinking Classroom in Mathematics. As that framework for teaching mathematics sweeps the globe, I hoped to provide some tangible advice and experiences to help bring it to life for others trying to Build Thinking Classrooms of their own.
About Me
I'm an award-winning teacher in the Atlanta area with experience teaching at every level from elementary school to college. You can read more about my career here.
I've spent most of my classroom years teaching math and science in grades 4-8. I'm constantly seeking and developing ways to make instruction in those subject areas more effective, more engaging, and more authentic. Why? Well, it turns out that I don't really know, but I did spend a lot of time thinking about it a few years ago.
I've spent most of my classroom years teaching math and science in grades 4-8. I'm constantly seeking and developing ways to make instruction in those subject areas more effective, more engaging, and more authentic. Why? Well, it turns out that I don't really know, but I did spend a lot of time thinking about it a few years ago.
Experience Areas
I enjoy change and novelty. I've changed what, where, and how I teach a lot, which has led to quite a wide range of experiences in 20+ years. I've developed a foundation in quite a few different classroom structures, the main ones being:
Awards
2023-2024 Teach Like a Champion Fellow (Cohort 3)
2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching
I was named Georgia's Presidential K-6 Science Awardee (profile)
2019 Georgia Educational Technology Innovation Grant Recipient
The Georgia Educational Technology Consortium awarded me a grant to expand the "Bringing Math and Science
to Life and Together" project that I began with the Teach On Project grant.
2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching
I was named Georgia's Presidential K-6 Science Awardee (profile)
2019 Georgia Educational Technology Innovation Grant Recipient
The Georgia Educational Technology Consortium awarded me a grant to expand the "Bringing Math and Science
to Life and Together" project that I began with the Teach On Project grant.
2019 Teach On Project Award for Excellence In Education (profile) (news segment)(project)
The Teach On Project recognizes metro-Atlanta teachers who demonstrate increases in student achievement,
enhancement of student self-esteem, collaboration with stakeholders, and who have an idea for an innovative project.
2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist (article)
I was selected as one of ten finalists considered for Georgia's 2019 Teacher of the Year.
2018 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year (video) (interview)
I was selected as the district Teacher of the Year for Gwinnett County Public Schools - the 15th largest school district
in the United States.
The Teach On Project recognizes metro-Atlanta teachers who demonstrate increases in student achievement,
enhancement of student self-esteem, collaboration with stakeholders, and who have an idea for an innovative project.
2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist (article)
I was selected as one of ten finalists considered for Georgia's 2019 Teacher of the Year.
2018 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year (video) (interview)
I was selected as the district Teacher of the Year for Gwinnett County Public Schools - the 15th largest school district
in the United States.
2016 Georgia Governor’s Innovation in Teaching Finalist
A math-science integration project I invented was chosen by the Georgia Governor's office as a finalist for most
innovative.
2010 Indiana University School of Education Outstanding Dissertation Award
A math-science integration project I invented was chosen by the Georgia Governor's office as a finalist for most
innovative.
2010 Indiana University School of Education Outstanding Dissertation Award
