Dallas Stars Teacher Highlight and Most Valuable Teacher Nominee!

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I am passionate about teaching youth about S.T.E.M., as well as, life lessons. I remembered the positive impact a teacher had in shaping me, and I enjoy paying this service back to the next generation. I believe all my life experiences of being a youth at some point in time, being a U.S. Navy Veteran, and being an Adjunct Professor has equipped me to give back to the next generation.

What has been your most memorable moment as a teacher?

My most memorable moment as a teacher was watching my 1st year S.T.E.M. compete and win. During practice session, they had to learn to work as a team. There were times I thought they would not work well together, but all the hard work, coaching, and dedication paid-off on competition day, where I saw the unity and excitement in their eyes.

What is your favorite part of Future Goals and how are you using it in your classroom? 

My favorite part of Future Goals is watching how it challenges the students in a game like format. The difficulty level of each module keeps the students engage.  I use it in my lab as part of their learning about different aspects of S.T.E.M.  For example, the Future Goals Math fills the gap of the “M” in S.T.E.M., which stands for mathematics.

What was your student’s reaction to the program?

They enjoy the interactiveness of the course. Students have commented that it breaks from the traditional classroom lessons and allows them to learn in a different format and something new that mimics their gaming desire.