Lingering Love of Literature

Six years teaching in a rural school in South Dakota. Two years working in a community mental health center. Within the school walls, I have taught: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th grade English. Most of my classes were driven by novel units and public speaking. In the tiny community, it was not uncommon for students to drive their horse trailers to class and dismiss themselves from attendance because they had rodeos to attend. A large population of students have heritage with the Lakota Sioux tribe. Graduating class numbers were about 40 students. Our content and curriculum restrictions are minimal. A large portion of my material for sale was created in those first years of teaching. Also, I was the Oral Interp and Speech and Debate coach and judge for our school. Then, my professional passions led me to social work. For two years I worked in a community mental health center with emotionally disturbed youth, primarily. I was trained in Functional Family Therapy and also worked frequently with family based services. In social work and mental health, I had participated in Teen Court and addiction treatment referrals. Also, I advocated for students and their families as somewhat of a mediator when their needs were not being met at school or their IEP had educational jargon but little follow through.

Yet to be added

Yet to be added

Black Hills State University

Things I like : Hazelnut, Ada, my dog named Irene, nurturing houseplants, composting in my back yard, tea, living in the Midwest, coloring compulsively, smooth and fine writing utensils, reading distopian novels, Taco Johns, online shopping, planning vacations Things I need to work on: gauging my own productivity, South Dakota's general culture towards teachers, deciding on continuing education, answering the question " How do I make my students good people?" driving, worrying Favorite Social Media: The Office, Harry Potter, Breakfast Club, Atmosphere, I Am, Eminem, Half the Sky, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Prince of Tides,