Student centered learning is the focus of my instruction. In my experience, a student's individual needs and personality drive instruction. Once an educator has identified the student's strengths and weaknesses, they can use the student's strengths to support their weaknesses. For the past thirty-three years, I have educated students ranging in age from five through adulthood, including those at the graduate level. I am a certified educator in Illinois, and hold a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Florida Southern College, and a Master of Arts in Reading Education from the University of South Florida. In addition to my graduate degrees, I have been trained as a reading coach to certified educators in reading instruction. To add to my professional credentials, I am a published author in association with Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society for educators, and I have been featured on the podcast channel entitled, New Teacher Talk on the topic of Virtual Tutoring. Literacy has become my passion in education. In working with students as a Varsity tutor for the past four years, I have been able to increase their reading and writing skills by two or three grade levels plus. Presently, I am experiencing success with students who are challenged in reading and writing because of issues with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD. I also work with students who are at different verbal levels of communication. No matter where a student is in their educational development, once they have attained some level of proficiency in both reading and writing skills, they possess the tools of a self-learner.

On a more personal level, my life centers around my family. Six years ago, shortly after my husband and I decided to retire, we relocated to Chicago from Tampa, Florida to be closer to our adult children. A strong family holds a special place in my heart. In addition to family, I value physical fitness; therefore, I regularly workout at a local gym and follow a guided nutrition plan. Among my other interests are sewing, reading and jazz. My husband and I also enjoy the company of our cat, Cinque, and my grand-pets, Lucy, Noodle, and Baxter. Within the last few years, Lucy, Baxter, and Cinque have passed. My husband and I miss them very much.