I teach life science at Heritage Middle School. I earned an undergraduate degree (B.S.) in Environmental Science at the University of Idaho and a graduate degree (M.I.T) in Education at Washington State University. I was a 2015 recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, the highest recognition bestowed upon science teachers by the U.S. government. In 2017 I was one of two educators nationwide to receive the National Science Teachers Association's Distinguished Teaching Award. This is my 16th year of teaching. I enjoy helping people explore and understand the natural world, especially the sagebrush steppe ecosystem and its community of native plants and animals.

 

In addition to my work in the classroom, I write for publication about education and fly fishing/conservation. My work has been published by Voices from the Middle (National Council of Teachers of English), The National Writing Project, and Northwest Fly Fishing magazine and Southwest Fly Fishing magazine. I am a Teacher Consultant with the Boise State Writing Project and work with educators in a variety of professional development and grant settings at the local, state, and national level.

 

Outside of teaching I am an avid trail runner, cyclist, and nordic skier.