Experience

Aristoi Classical Academy

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Latin Teacher

  • Oct 2016 - Present

  Taught middle- and high-school Latin I and Latin II classes, using the Cambridge Latin Curriculum with self-written vocabulary quizzes and tests. Developed new pre-Latin curriculum for seventh graders, incorporating English grammar, vocabulary, and connections to history and science, which visibly improved students’ performance in next year’s Latin I. Served as homeroom teacher for 11th graders, 7th graders; composed philosophical talks for school assemblies. Assisted with design for event programs and school yearbook. Sat on school’s safety committee, evaluating equipment and policies for implementation. Show less



Baker Residential College at Rice University

• College Community Associate (Volunteer)

  • Aug 1999 - Present

  • Advise undergraduate students, answering questions and offering suggestions. • Write school or professional recommendations for students based on supervisory experience, including several who have obtained government positions or graduate-school appointments. • In every year since 1988, I have participated in Rice's annual Shakespeare festival as (at various times) actor, dancer, puppeteer, musician, stagehand, publicity supervisor, program designer, voice or verse coach, set or sound designer, or (seven times) overall director. • Received Rice University's Baker College Distinguished Service Award (2001, 2003) for work in directing college undergraduates in Shakespeare plays; frequently chosen as a Distinguished Associate for recognition by university president. Show less



Self-employed

• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Independent Contractor

  • Aug 2010 - Sep 2016

  Highlights: • Writing Coach: through regular one-on-one sessions, honed a professional cancer researcher's style and presentation for popular communications as well as journal articles. The researcher has made several well-regarded speeches at patient conferences. • Professional Editor: Edited papers for a professional teacher-trainer for clarity and completeness. The trainer was recognized at the national level in Montessori education. • Program Designer: Created audience leaflets for multiple theatrical productions, editing material for space and content, including actor headshots and biographies and director's notes. Leaflets were favorably compared by attendees to those of professional theaters. Redesigned program booklet and event listings for a local science-fiction convention to improve clarity and enable smoother updates; also researched and recommended open-source web-based convention scheduling software for fast delivery of room, time, or speaker changes. • Logo Artist: Worked on multiple print/online logo designs for a new local film-production company, a flower importer, and a local restaurant. • Computer Tutor: Assisted multiple elderly computer users with selection, purchase, and transition to new desktop computers, including tutoring and troubleshooting of upgrades to operating system (OS X) and productivity software. • Web Programmer: Wrote CSS and JavaScript code for Medical Center research group to allow smoother, more efficient display (through clickable disclosure triangles) of research progress reports generated by sample-tracking database. Created JavaScript-driven web page for local homeowner in major home remodeling to make rough comparison/coordination among multiple color choices for roof, gutters, siding, trim, and window cladding. Show less



The Rice Players

• Guest Theatrical Director

  • Aug 2007 - Oct 2011

  • Contracted as paid director three times by Rice University campus-wide theatre group to direct their fall production in 500-seat Hamman Hall auditorium: David Auburn's *Proof* in 2007, Oscar Wilde's *The Importance of Being Earnest* in 2009, and Sarah Ruhl's *Dead Man's Cell Phone* in 2011. • Ran auditions; cast actors and chose production staff; created rehearsal schedules; worked with student performers to create meaningful stage movement and compelling performances; worked with student and professional designers on stage sets, lighting, props, and sound cues; designed and edited audience leaflets; created publicity materials and award-winning organizational web site (chosen by ClickitTicket in 2009 as one of their "Top 20 College and University Theatre Club Websites"). Show less



The Post Oak School

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Upper Elementary Teacher

  • Aug 2008 - Jul 2010

  • Taught a mixed-age class (ages 9-12) of 25-30 children, using the AMI Montessori curriculum (plus independent personal inventions) to plan and deliver all subjects (English, mathematics, social studies, computers, science, music) except physical fitness, art, and Spanish language (all taught by in-house content specialists). • Served on or led school committees ("Portrait of a Teacher" document, employee retreat, social networking technology) to develop school presentations, activities, or policies. Served as an ambassador for the school in the wider Houston community, both as a source of information about Montessori education and as a conduit to introduce potential parents or teachers to the school and its programs.• Planned and chaperoned outings (both local day trips and multi-day excursions to San Antonio, Austin, Colonial Williamsburg), planned and participated in school activities (book fair, field day, Cinco de Mayo dance performances). Show less

• Director of External Affairs

  • Jul 2006 - Jul 2008

  • Redesigned student record form to streamline annual updates; rather than requiring parents to re-enter identical information each year, individual forms were pre-printed using the school's database to drive Adobe InDesign: this change significantly reduced time and effort needed for accurate data entry.• Reduced time and effort required for finalizing the annual parent handbook by implementing Adobe InDesign features such as nested styles, auto-generation of table of contents, and automatic indexing.• Improved school directory: school database fed to a custom-written Python program, which merged into Adobe InDesign for automatic generation of directory — including, for the first time, cross-references for parents with different last names than their children. Revisions became so easy that the school issued updates monthly rather than yearly.• Redesigned and relaunched school newsletter (8-16 pages weekly, to several hundred families and staff), then promoted digital delivery via PDF, generating large savings in paper, toner, and machinery use.• Expanded school web pages, using xCatalyst tags and custom CSS to automate indexing and display of several years' back issues of school newsletter. Also composed most public-facing content.• As school photographer, was invited presenter at national conference (AMI-USA 2008, Atlanta GA) on use of visual media for parent education and publicity.• Coordinated site selection (Bank of America building downtown) and installation of traveling museum exhibit on Montessori history; also designed and built two-cabinet display on Montessori education for University of St. Thomas library. Show less

• Middle School Teacher

  • Jul 2003 - Jul 2006

  • Taught pre-algebra and language arts; occasionally co-taught algebra, science (biology, chemistry, physics), humanities.• Planned and participated in annual community-building high-ropes challenge course, field trips, retreats, out-of-state trips (Cortez, CO; Washington, DC), MS 150 two-day bicycle ride from Houston to Austin.• Wrote for and proofread school newsletter, took photographs (with several reprinted in local newspapers). Appeared as speaker in nationally distributed video (NAMTA’s *Doorway to Life-Long Learning*).• Served on faculty council (advising on hiring and policy), as faculty captain for Annual Fund campaign (with 100% staff participation), and on self-study committees for school accreditation by ISAS (Independent Schools Association of the Southwest).• Under separate contract, completely redesigned school’s web page and several print pieces. Show less

• Upper Elementary Intern / Assistant

  • Aug 2002 - Jul 2003

  • In an upper elementary (ages 9-12) classroom, presented some Montessori lessons, coached students in math and test-taking, edited student writing, taught singing.• For end-of-year class play, designed and built sets, supervised painting, performed dance choreography.• Outside formal job function, created new teacher-assistant evaluation form and teacher reporting forms.



The Breakthrough Collaborative

• Mentor Teacher

  • Jun 2006 - Jul 2008

  • For two summers (2006 & 2008), served as Language Arts mentor teacher to high-school and college students presenting both basic skills and enrichment programs to academically motivated but under-served middle-school students from the local public schools during a six-week summer program. • Lectured on educational philosophy (Maslow’s hierarchy, etc.), reviewed all teachers' lesson plans, acted as problem-solving resource for both curriculum and behavior issues, regularly observed classroom presentations and gave feedback, wrote individual evaluations for teachers. Show less



St. Catherine's Montessori

• United States
• Education Administration Programs

• Middle School Teacher / Technology Coordinator

  • Jun 1997 - Jul 2002

  • Founded Middle School (grades 7-8) which grew steadily from 7 to 22 students in its first three years. Wrote articles for school newsletter; presented to prospective and current parents at school events. Designed curriculum and materials to teach math (arithmetic and algebra), Latin, science, humanities, social studies, language arts, acting and vocal techniques. • Designed and implemented school's first web site, including selection of hosting service and composition of all public-facing content. • Planned and installed cables for classroom computer network; assisted in implementing initial network setup and Internet access for entire school building. Created databases for student assignment records and class food-service business. • Cast, directed, choreographed, and designed annual musicals. Planned and chaperoned retreats and out-of-state trips. Planned, pre-cut lumber, and supervised carpentry for student-constructed lockers. Show less