About Me
I am amazed by the living world. Nature has both conservative
simplicity and wild, ingenious complexity. Organisms have developed many
unique, interesting and even amusing ways to survive and reproduce. I am
completely engaged in the puzzle of “how it all works” and I like to share my
fascination with others. Consequently, I have worked in two related fields that
allow me to indulge my passions: zoology and education. Upon an early departure
from graduate study in wildlife genetics, I spent the first 17 years of my
career in the zoo profession in an array of positions from keeper to curator. I
have managed and trained many different exotic animals including large cats, hoofstock,
primates and birds. As a zoo curator, I particularly enjoyed helping people better appreciate our connection, reliance and impact on the natural world through education and personal experiences. After my children left for college, I returned to school for a secondary education certification in the natural sciences and embarked on a second career in teaching. Currently, I guide tenth through twelfth grade students at Idaho Falls High School in a variety of biology-based classes.
I believe that education is in a critical transition towards more individualized and independent learning environments and that technology is one of the driving forces in this evolution. I am in the process of redesigning my courses toward a blended learning model with more problem-based learning elements. To acquire the necessary tools for myself and my students, I am pursuing a Masters in Educational Technology at Boise State, I have developed and implemented courses through the Idaho Digital Learning Academy’s BrainHoney platform, and I have a date this summer with Educurious.