With 20 years of experience, I am an impassioned language instructor skilled in communication, phonetics, grammar, and cultural education for students of all levels, ages, and backgrounds. I hold state certifications in teaching secondary Spanish and English as a Second Language. I hold a BA in Spanish from the University of Alabama, and did a Master’s in Spanish Language & Culture at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. I began teaching languages with Berlitz, and in public then independent schools in the U.S. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a travel grant that allowed me to tour the Peruvian and Bolivian highlands to study indigenous communities there. I feel that language study and travel go hand in hand; to put into practice what we learn of communication and how we think of cultures is an experience that I cherish as a language student myself. I aim to open my students’ minds to walking the path of their counterpart in another part of the world.

My dedication persists in crafting and delivering innovative lessons that enhance language proficiency and intercultural understanding. I have developed and taught lessons featuring Hispanic films, music, and visual art for maximum engagement with learners, and I recently began creating digital tools to gamify language enrichment and assessments. Additionally, I have organized immersive student trips to Spanish-speaking countries and I often engage in ongoing professional development through ACTFL, TFLA, and AATSP.

My mission is to inspire students to become lifelong learners and global citizens who value the rich diversity of the Spanish language and its various connected cultures.