“All great qualities are never found in any one man or in any one race. The whole of humanity, like the whole of everything else, is ever greater than a part. Men only know themselves by knowing others, and contact is essential to this knowledge.” - Frederick Douglass, "Our Composite Nationality," (December 7, 1869), Boston, Massachusetts. 

A proud alumnus of Palmer High School (’01), I am excited to begin my fifth year teaching social studies! Prior to becoming a teacher, I spent thirteen years working in the federal government, presidential politics, and late night television primarily. Early in my career, I spent two years working for the Late Show with David Letterman in New York — a job I had dreamed of since I was a kid. I then spent the bulk of 2008-2017 working in various capacities for the presidential campaigns and administration of President Barack Obama. In 2008 and 2012, I served as a member of his campaign staff, working in Colorado and Florida respectively. In both terms of his administration, I served as a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Education where I held various roles, including as Director of the White House Liaison Office. I have also worked for two national education nonprofits over the course of my career: New Leaders and Teach For America. 

Originally from the Western Slope of Colorado, my family relocated to Colorado Springs in the mid-1990s, and I immediately fell in love with the Springs. I also had the opportunity to attend and graduate from Palmer High School, which was a game-changing experience in my life. The four years I spent at Palmer helped prepare me for so many opportunities in college, work, and beyond, which is why I am thrilled to now have the opportunity to contribute to the lives and goals of Palmer students as a teacher! Teaching social studies excites me because I believe topics such as history, government, geography, and economics have the ability to impact a person’s self-perception and worldview in meaningful ways. Exploring these topics can equip students to understand their world, to reflect on their own participation in society, and ultimately pursue a lifelong commitment to civic engagement.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and history from the University of Puget Sound (’05) and a Masters of Arts degree in Social Science from the University of Chicago (’12). This year, I am teaching two courses: IB MYP Honors World History and U.S. Government and IB DP Theory of Knowledge. I also serve as sponsor for Student Council's Class of 2024 and sponsor for the African American History Club. I’m looking forward to working with students to set and pursue their goals! Outside of school, I enjoy road trips, discovering all kinds of new music (especially soul and indie rock), and spending time with friends and family, near and far. 

Students and families: additional information and communication is available on Schoology. If you need an access code to Schoology, please contact me.

“One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In stopping to think through the meaning of what I have learned, there is much that I believe intensely, much I am unsure of. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” - Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn By Living, 1960.