Experience

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  MagicSchool AI

  • Remote

  • AI-Certified, Level 3 - with MagicSchool.

    • Dec 2023 - Present
    • Remote

    MagicSchool.ai pioneer; Completed levels one through three in training.

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  Miami High School

  • Miami, Oklahoma, United States

  • Jr. High & High School Teacher

    • Aug 2020 - Present
    • Miami, Oklahoma, United States

    Specialities include: Speech, Drama, Debate, Journalism, Digital Media, Yearbook, Stop-Motion Animation and Google Tools; managed the school's social media accounts for three years (2020 to 2023); co-directed school musical 2022-23 school year; produced the school yearbook for three years.

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  Various Clients

  • Various

  • Freelance Journalist

    • 1997 - Present
    • Various

    Freelance Writer: Various clients. • Tulsa World 2019 to present. • Joplin Globe 2019 to present. • Town Square Publications 2019 to present. • Grand Lake Media 2019 to present. • Miami (Okla.) CVB 2019 to present. • Arkansas UMC Conference Newspaper, Little Rock, Ark. 2007 to 2013• Carthage Press, Carthage, Mo. 2012.• Christian Family Magazine, Little Rock, Ark. 2013• Group Publishing, Loveland, Colo. 2012• Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Ark. 2007 to 2011.Blog Tours/Book ReviewsReviews Appear at http://www.myscrappylife.comWork with various publicists to conduct interviews with current authors and review books in conjunction with public relation blog tours.May 2009 to February 2014• Litfuse Publicity Group • Baker Publishing (Revell, Bethany House, Baker Books)• BookSneeze • Blogging For Books • Tyndale House Publishing• Zondervan• David C. Cook• Abingdon Press

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  The Chart @ Missouri Southern State University

  • Joplin, Missouri

  • Adviser

    • Jul 2018 - Jun 2019
    • Joplin, Missouri

    Adviser to the student newspaper.

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  The Delaware County Journal

  • Manging Editor

    • Feb 2017 - Jun 2019

    A weekly community newspaper owned by GateHouse Media. Responsibilities include writingand photojournalism to create content for a weekly print deadline and a daily webpresence; managing a staff multiple freelancers; and growing an online presence usingvarious social media platforms. February 2016 to present.

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  GateHouse Media

  • Grove, Oklahoma

  • Managing Editor

    • Apr 2013 - Jun 2019
    • Grove, Oklahoma

    A bi-weekly community newspaper owned by GateHouse Media. Responsibilities include writing and photojournalism to create content for two weekly print deadlines and a daily web presence; managing a staff consisting of one full-time journalist and multiple freelancers; and growing an online presence using various social media platforms.Winner of the 2015 Sequoyah Award, presented by the Oklahoma Press Association.Runner up for the Sequoyah Award 2014 and 2016.The paper, formerly owned by American Consolidated Media, was purchased in July 2014 by GateHouse Media.

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  Various

  • Various

  • Website Administration, Content Author & Social Media Advisor

    • Aug 2010 - Apr 2013
    • Various

    • Arkansas United Methodist Conference - Children's Ministry - http://kidz.arumc.orgResponsible for coordinating and administering content for http://kidz.arumc.org. Also responsible for establishing and managing the children's council's social media.December 2010 to Present.• St. Paul United Methodist Church, Little Rock, Ark. - http://www.stpaulumclr.org/Responsible for migrating the church's website to the current server, redesigning the website and training staff to utilize a WordPress system.Completed June 2012.• Northwest District, Arkansas United Methodist Conference - http://www.nwdist.orgResponsible for coordinating and administering content for http://www.nwdist.org. Also responsible for establishing and managing the district's social media.August 2010 - October 2011• Wesley Foundation, University of Arkansas - http://www.uawesley.org Responsible for redesigning the WordPress-based site. December 2010 to September 2011

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  St. James United Methodist Church, Little Rock, AR

  • Little Rock, Arkansas Area

  • Director of Children's Ministries

    • Jul 2011 - Mar 2013
    • Little Rock, Arkansas Area

    Responsible for children’s ministry activities, for students three years to fifth grade. Ministry includes coordinating a Sunday evening program for kindergarten to second grades, a tween ministry for third, fourth and fifth grades, a variety of monthly and special events, Sunday School, spring break and summer mission trips for tweens and Vacation Bible School. Also responsible for coordinating an Upward Basketball and Cheerleading league for kindergarten through fifth grades.

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  The Upper Room

  • Freelance Writer, DevoZine

    • 1997 - 2013

    Frequent contributor to the teen devotional published by The Upper Room.

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  First United Methodist Church - Siloam Springs, AR

  • Siloam Springs, Arkansas

  • Minister to Families With Children & Communication Assistant

    • Oct 2007 - Jul 2011
    • Siloam Springs, Arkansas

    Responsible for children’s ministry activities, for students birth to fifth grade. Programming includes coordinating a mid-week discipleship program, multiple monthly events and Sunday school. Also responsible for all internal and external communications for the church - including print and web based publications and social media.

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  GateHouse Media

  • Various

  • Various

    • Jul 2004 - Sep 2007
    • Various

    • Feature Writer, GateHouse Plus, GateHouse Media, Joplin, Missouri. Responsible for preparing stories and other editorial content for special publications produced by GateHouse Plus. Publications are used throughout the newspaper chain. March 2007 to September 2007.• Education/Features Editor, JoplinDaily.com, Joplin, Missouri. Developed by GateHouse Media as a daily Internet and weekly print newspaper, JoplinDaily.com was launched on Jan. 1, 2006, and published until March 2007. Responsible for coordinating coverage of education and feature stories related to children/young adult issues. Additionally, responsible for editorials, news stories, feature stories and all related photography. Coordinated the weekly print edition. December 2005 to March 2007.• Lifestyles Editor: The Carthage Press, Carthage, Missouri. A daily newspaper owned by GateHouse Media. Responsible for news and feature stories and related photography, and page design using Quark and Photoshop. July 2004 to April 2005.

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  Group Publishing

  • Loveland, Colo.

  • Editor, Product Development

    • Apr 2005 - Nov 2005
    • Loveland, Colo.

    Responsible for assigning projects, working with freelance authors, editing projects and developing curriculum related to the Hands-On Bible Curriculum line.

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  Missouri Southern State University

  • Student

    • 1990 - 1994

    The ChartThe Student Newspaper at Missouri SouthernVarious positions, from Staff Writer to Editor In ChiefSeptember 1990 to May 1994