Clinton City Schools

I felt it was my duty to become a teacher, almost like I did not have a choice, and that this had been decided for me a long time ago. I truly believe teaching is a calling - a calling to help others grow, learn, and fulfill their potential - or at least instill in them the necessary characteristics to fulfill their potential. I wanted to become a teacher because I wanted to help mold the future leaders of our region and state. I believe that there are few professions where one can make a lasting difference in day-to-day interactions with people, and I feel grateful for the opportunity to make a difference every day in the lives of my students My greatest contribution is sending our graduating seniors out into the world with the necessary skills needed to be successful in college. It is no secret that the collegiate level of study is far more demanding than the high school level. So, I consider it my duty to prepare seniors for the academic rigors of collegiate study. With my freshman classes, I try and instill in them successful academic habits that will serve them well throughout high school and review the expectations and challenges that lay ahead so they can begin preparing for the future. I hope students complete my course with better writing, reading, and analytical thinking skills. I believe my greatest accomplishment so far while at Clinton High School is to have helped to build up our Advanced Placement program (which received back-to-back national Advanced Placement Honor Roll awards), to have established an international travel program, as well as to continue on our academic clubs’ traditions of community service and volunteering. I want to provide global opportunities to more of our students regardless of ethnicity or economic level. We have the resources to expand higher level learning at Clinton High School, and we have been successful in adding more people into higher level learning and opening up the world via our travel program.