As a teacher, my mission has always been to make scientific knowledge accessible to ALL students, and help them see why it's worth the effort to pursue. I received my undergraduate degree in Physics from Amherst College, and later a masters degree in Science and Math Education from UC Berkeley. While I've always had an interest in science, I've come to see myself as someone who teaches *people* rather than *science*. That is, I really enjoy helping students become more confident & independent learners, critical thinkers, and problem solvers. I feel honored to be a part of any students' growth. :)

I love all outdoor activities - especially hiking/backpacking, biking, rock climbing, sailing, and cross country skiing. However, I'm currently getting most of my exercise by running around after my 1 year-old son! I also enjoy learning about people and cultures around the world. After college, I lived and worked in Mozambique for a year, and later traveled to 11 different countries on 4 continents. At different points in my life I was fluent in French, then Spanish, then Portuguese, but I'm a bit rusty with all three at the moment.