Credentials
I’ve been writing, teaching writing, and training dogs for over twenty years. After earning a Masters Degree in Literature and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Writing from Penn State, I went on to win writing awards and land publishing deals of my own. Ever since, I’ve devoted my professional career to helping others do the same.
After earning my public teaching certification, I spent a decade teaching Senior IB English, essay writing, and the college application process for at Palm Harbor University High School. Helping students craft persuasive essays that open doors to their futures became my passion.
Training trick dogs and studying behavioral modification has taught me to be all-positive all the time. I’ve applied marker-training techniques to my writing instruction to enormous success. Nothing helps writing students take the risk of writing authentically and effectively than trusting that their coach is only going to reinforce what they do well and encourage them to do more of it.
Thanks to my champion trick dogs, I’ve become very good at shaping writing behavior using strategic praise.
As a professional Writing Coach and a College Admissions Counselor, I’ve helped students earn admission to Yale University, Harvard University, University of Florida, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Brown University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Tampa, Georgetown University, Brandeis University, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and many other dream schools.
Teaching Philosophy
I have spent decades writing and working with students, editors, and professional writers. I’m convinced that the education of humans needs to catch up with what animal trainers have known a long time: positive reinforcement works best. In dog training we say, “Praise the best, ignore the rest.” We praise what’s pleasing to us as classmates and aficionados of creative nonfiction, we offer problem-solving solutions, and we withhold comment on what’s not working.