THIS IS MY PRACTICPROFILE! WE CAN START WITH "TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF." My teaching career began at North Dakota State University in 2009. I was elated to have the opportunity to study, research, and teach. The courses I taught that fall were two sections of College Composition II. Upon graduating in 2011, I moved to Waco, TX. There I taught full-time for six years. During those six years, I not only worked as a full-time English faculty member at Texas State Technical College, but I also taught as a lecturer at Baylor University. Before returning to North Dakota to teach, I also lived and taught in West Virginia for two years. I taught at several colleges during those two years, including at West Virginia University, Morgantown. I was a tenure-track English instructor for WVU's Keyser campus. This was one of the most beautiful locations I've ever taught at. What are some interesting places your job has taken you?
WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON FOSTERING GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES? With working with students, I always try to treat them like adults. To that end, I respect their schedules, their choices, and their thoughts. For instance, I show respect for their schedules by video recording all of my classes. I have been doing this since the fall of 2019--before the Pandemic. I show respect for their choices by using contract grading. Contract grading means I allow my students to choose their grades based on how hard they are willing to work. Finally, I respect their thoughts by finding ways in every class to have a discussion, whether it is a long or short discussion. A class without a question is not much of a class. In response to the question about fostering great relationships with colleagues, I try to listen more and talk less. I try always to interact with my colleagues by asking them questions I know they care about. For instance, I will commonly ask colleagues how their semester's are going and what are some fun classes they have taught recently. Listening is the cornerstone of building great relationships with friends and family. What is your view on building and maintaining good relationships with others?
WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY? I never plan classes in such a way that I need to tell students to put their devices away. I try to use their technologies as tools--which they are. My classrooms usually encourage hands-on learning. Simply, my students are working diligently in class because I planned those classes in such a way that there is sufficient, meaningful work to complete. How would you summarize your approach to class planning?
WHY TEACHING? I have long been fascinated by the hobbies reading and writing. As a twelve-year-old, I used to read a novel a week during the long winters in North Dakota. I loved reading Louis L'Amour. Reading and writing instilled in me an appreciation for scholarship. I began valuing the power of words, especially in the written form. I soon realized, during my first year in college, the best place to live my love for reading and writing was in education. Therefore, I wanted to educate others, as well as myself. I have devoted my life's work to knowledge. What is it about your field that fulfills you?
WHAT DOES DIVERSITY MEAN TO YOU? Diversity means treating everyone with respect regardless of where they are from, what language they speak, what age they are, and so on. When working in groups, for instance, I always model good listening skills. I prioritize others in conversations within groups regardless of who they are. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect.