My educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in English Education and a Master's Degree in English earned from the University of South Florida, Tampa in 1993. My Master's Thesis focused on an exploration of how the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson's private grief over the sudden death of his brilliant young friend Arthur Hallam developed into a public analysis of the Victorian Age in his long poem "In Memoriam". I have taught English and Reading in Florida middle and high schools for 9 years, as well as Developmental Writing, Composition I, and II at the SPC Tarpon Springs and Clearwater campuses. I am currently teaching the SPC Early College Composition classes at Countryside High School and have also taught  the AP Capstone Research class at the school. I have added the Reading Endorsement, the ESOL Certification, and the ESE Certification to my Florida Educator's Certificate. In addition to many and varied reading interests, I especially enjoy and value spending time with my daughters, family, and friends. I love traveling, fishing, exercising, and trying new restaurants. Like most English majors, I love books and bookstores-especially the search for that "just right" book for my current interests. I believe that books and the written word enrich and entertain us immeasurably. I read a variety of non-fiction and fiction books, including the novelist James Lee Burke and Florida writer Randy Wayne White. My brother has encouraged me to read some of the Jack Reacher novels for some easy reading. Paging through anthologies of poetry from time to time is something I also do, like many English majors. Non-fiction reading takes up most of my reading selections and my choices tend to be abouot wildlife, psychology, philosophy, history, self improvement, and any other subject that I want to learn more about.