I am a nurse who became a teacher.

I am a Health Science educator, literacy specialist, nurse, and Red Cross instructor for basic life support, first aid, and lifesaving skills. I hold a B.S.Ed. from East Carolina University and am completing my M.Ed. in Literacy.

My nursing experience includes long-term care, outpatient procedures, patient education, infection prevention, and clinical support. I also served in the Army Reserve as a 68W-M10. As an ESOL and reading educator, I worked with multilingual learners and struggling readers. Today, I teach Health Science and NHA certification pathways, including CCMA, CPCT, and CMAA.

I created a medical terminology curriculum for students who were struggling with language and reading. I first integrated it into Health Science, then expanded it through reading instruction and other science courses. That work showed me that students may understand a health concept but still be blocked by the language used to teach it. I chose to focus on literacy because students need explicit support learning how to read, speak, write, and apply the language of healthcare.

This guide grows from that experience. My goal is to help new Health Science teachers build teaching expertise while helping students access demanding content with confidence and purpose. I want to help make learning meaningful and intentional, so teaching is not just a job but a passion.