Who I am...
You will find that I am a fairly open person, so if you ever have any questions--whether they are about me, the material we are studying, or life in general--please feel free to ask.
I graduated from Warren Mott High School in 1994 and received a Presidential Award to Wayne State University, where I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education with a major in English and a minor in Speech. I continued my education at Saginaw Valley State University where I earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
I have been teaching English at SHHS since 1999. I also taught Drama and directed plays for the first twelve years before budget cuts forced the district to cut the program. You will find, however, that I enjoy the theater and find ways to incorporate it into my classroom. In 2019, I was recognized as the Warren
Consolidated School District's High School Teacher of the Year, as well as the Macomb County High School Teacher of the Year. These are two honors that I am most proud of in my career, and it is my hope that I live up to these titles every day.
I have been married for twenty-two years and have a thirteen-year-old son, Austin, about whom you will hear many stories because he is awesome! He plays piano and was a competitive gymnast until the boys' program was cut. If you go to the "Mama D Photos" section, I've included some videos of him doing gymnastics and playing piano. I spend my summers hanging out with family, napping, and walking and running. I also am an avid reader (shocking, huh?); I read every night before going to bed, and I am always looking for suggestions.
I also have several idiosyncracies that you will learn quickly on your own, but if you want to know them now, here they are:
*I have several pet peeves, but the top ones are rudeness, incorrect use of the word "like," disrespect, and apathy
*I am very close to my family. My mother was born and raised in Belgium, and I'm very proud of my cultural heritage (did you know that The
Smurfs and "french" fries are both Belgian creations?). I have even included a few of the pictures from my vacations (which included Belgium,
Paris, London, and Stratford, Ontario ), so feel free to glance through them in the Photo Gallery tab.
*I have a terrible voice, but I sing often, so be warned!
*I am insecure to a fault
*I LOVE MY JOB!
I graduated from Warren Mott High School in 1994 and received a Presidential Award to Wayne State University, where I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education with a major in English and a minor in Speech. I continued my education at Saginaw Valley State University where I earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
I have been teaching English at SHHS since 1999. I also taught Drama and directed plays for the first twelve years before budget cuts forced the district to cut the program. You will find, however, that I enjoy the theater and find ways to incorporate it into my classroom. In 2019, I was recognized as the Warren
Consolidated School District's High School Teacher of the Year, as well as the Macomb County High School Teacher of the Year. These are two honors that I am most proud of in my career, and it is my hope that I live up to these titles every day.
I have been married for twenty-two years and have a thirteen-year-old son, Austin, about whom you will hear many stories because he is awesome! He plays piano and was a competitive gymnast until the boys' program was cut. If you go to the "Mama D Photos" section, I've included some videos of him doing gymnastics and playing piano. I spend my summers hanging out with family, napping, and walking and running. I also am an avid reader (shocking, huh?); I read every night before going to bed, and I am always looking for suggestions.
I also have several idiosyncracies that you will learn quickly on your own, but if you want to know them now, here they are:
*I have several pet peeves, but the top ones are rudeness, incorrect use of the word "like," disrespect, and apathy
*I am very close to my family. My mother was born and raised in Belgium, and I'm very proud of my cultural heritage (did you know that The
Smurfs and "french" fries are both Belgian creations?). I have even included a few of the pictures from my vacations (which included Belgium,
Paris, London, and Stratford, Ontario ), so feel free to glance through them in the Photo Gallery tab.
*I have a terrible voice, but I sing often, so be warned!
*I am insecure to a fault
*I LOVE MY JOB!
My Philosophy
As an educator, I believe that all students can learn, demonstrate concern for others, and choose to act responsibly in the classroom. My goals as a teacher are to help all students learn to the best of their abilities, become responsible citizens, and work effectively with others. I believe that it is each student’s responsibility to make our classroom one where everyone feels safe and free from the threat of ridicule or teasing. I work with the students to create an environment that encourages mutual respect, cooperation, and constructive criticism while still allowing the students a sense of freedom.