I love working with people.
Originally from the United States and a current resident of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, I am a lifelong learner who enjoys the challenge of helping teenagers lead a balanced, productive life.
my education and career
I hold a BA in Anthropology from Harvard University, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Counselling from WSU and a Graduate Diploma in Education in Secondary Social Sciences from UNE.
I have spent the last 20 years working with others to improve their lives, providing them with choice and opportunities.
For seven years, I ran inclusive community centres offering education and life skills programs for people experiencing homelessness and then for persons with disability.
After retraining, I led an engaging humanities classroom at one of Sydney’s top co-ed independent schools for 13 years, challenging my students to think critically and act responsibly while supporting them personally as an approachable, relational teacher and pastoral carer.
And now I’m bring life education to teenagers on their terms.
For more details, please view my CV, NESA teaching qualifications and Working with Children Certificate (#WWC0888591E).
my experiences
My professional observations support experts’ findings – teens need trusted adults to help them guide their decision making as they figure out who they are. The teenage years are called ‘formative’ for good reason because teens’ personalities, attitudes and interests form as they experience sudden growth in so many ways. This is not an easy process, and I have witnessed the range of approaches teens use – some healthy, some not – to adapt to and make sense of these big changes.
Throughout my career, I have a developed a deep understanding of people and strategies they can use to support themselves as they address a range of issues, like learning difficulties, peer pressure and bullying, physical and intellectual disabilities, mental health issues, school-related issues and addictions.
Everyone has different needs, and I am adept at recommending a choice of individualised, research-based strategies to meet a range of outcomes so that teens gain a stronger sense of self – their values, passions and abilities – on their terms.
To be the best mentor I can be, I draw on my extensive experience as a:
- strong communicator and people-centred education professional with excellent relational skills who is attuned to understanding teens
- high school humanities teacher (History, Global Studies, Society + Culture) and pastoral carer responsible for the wellbeing and academic outcomes of my students
- social worker creating and running inclusive education and life skills centres and programs for people experiencing homelessness at the Matthew Talbot Hostel and then for young adults with intellectual disability
- education researcher and project officer for one of Australia’s first online tertiary learning programs at the University of Sydney
- chairperson of a not-for-profit organisation running Sydney Street Choir, street soccer and Milk Crate Theatre
- elite high school athlete (rowing, basketball, softball)
- coach of rowing, basketball, baseball and volleyball teams; surf lifesaving trainer (land + first aid only)
- waiter at some of Sydney’s finest waterfront restaurants – Quay, Manta, Pier, Coast
- experienced traveller
- lifelong community volunteer
- global citizen passionate about solving injustices