Samantha A.
Private tutor in Windermere, FL
Education
"Retired" public school educator - 15 years of experience. Undergraduate and Master's Degree in Education from Stetson University. National Board Certified Teacher, Certified in Art K-12 and Social Sciences - Secondary. Began French lessons at the age of 10 and continued through the age of 21 in university and maintain my fluency with trips to Paris. Born and raised in Ohio, I learned a solid work ethic from my Swedish mother, and a love for knowledge from my Irish father. My family travelled to Florida every summer to stay in my grandfather's house in St. Cloud, where I would dig up clams for bait, in order to fish in Lake Toho. As a result, some Florida natives have granted me honorary native status. :) We moved to Orlando in the summer of 1989, and I started my freshman year at Dr. Phillips High School. In Ohio, I began taking French in 6th grade, so when I registered at DPHS, I was placed in Advanced Placement French at the tender age of 14. Sidebar - If I had known we would move to Florida, I most likely would have chosen Spanish, but was lucky enough to travel to France several times in my adult life, so I haven't lost any of my French that I learned from such a young age. Graduating in the top 10% of my class, I was a member of National Honor Society and the President of Amnesty International. My senior year, as a member of both the varsity girls swim and water polo teams, we achieved 2nd in state in both, and I appreciate and understand the importance of athletics. My love for swimming persists; not only was I a varsity swim coach while I taught at the high school level, but I run and swim a mile 4-5 times a week at the new LA Fitness in The Grove or in and around Lake Down in my neighborhood. My love of human rights drew me to Title One Schools (low socio-economic population) and that was my calling while I was employed in both Volusia and Orange Counties. I believe that working in Title One Schools with all the various challenges faced by the teachers, students, parents and administrators is the reason I only lasted 15 years and not the traditional 30, in the public school system. History and writing were my specialties within my "hidden curriculum". I taught history and writing skills through my fine arts classes to students at every age level, kindergarten all the way through seniors in high school and chartered their progress in those skills by working closely with their language arts and social studies teachers. I also taught Advanced Placement Art History as well as an elective Art History class. The evidence that I was an effective writing teacher lies in my success as an AP Art History teacher because the AP Art History exam is extremely heavy in composition. During college, my English professor requested that I become and English major and also, in the various schools in which I worked, administrators and teachers requested, several times, that I switch from the Art Department to the English Department, but I preferred to learn and teach writing through fine arts because I feel it is much more effective and students generally respond to art positively and will be more willing to learn when art is involved. Presently, I live in Windermere with my husband of 12 years, two dogs and cat. I have a detached garage that I use as my ceramics studio and would be more than willing to share my love of fine arts with your child in order to inspire them to become more successful in their organization, study habits and all their various subjects, from French, to History, and, of course, Language Arts.
Experience
1989-1993 - Dr. Phillips HS 1993-1997 - Stetson University - B.A. double major in Art and Education 1997-1998 - Fine Arts Teacher - Galaxy Middle School, Volusia County 1998-2000 - Nanny - A Choice Nanny, Orlando 2000 - 2005 - Fine Arts Teacher - Richmond Heights Elem, OCPS 2003-2005 - Urban Teacher Residency Program - UCF 2004 - Teacheriffic Award from Disney 2004 - Stetson University - Master's in Educational Leadership 2005 - National Board Certified Teacher 2005-2013 - Fine Arts - Ceramics Teacher - Oak Ridge HS, OCPS 2011-2013 - Art History Teacher - Oak Ridge HS, OCPS 2011-2013 - Varsity Swim Coach - Oak Ridge HS, OCPS 2012-2013 - Advanced Placement Art History Teacher - Oak Ridge HS
Availability
Weekdays after 1PM
Can Meet
Up to 15 minutes away for no additional charge
Hobbies
My favorite magazines are The Atlantic and National Geographic. I love to read - especially about anthropology, history, nature and health & nutrition. I love to laugh and consider myself an amateur comedienne (all my former students would agree). I am one of the few educators who, not only still believes that learning can be fun, but who can ACTUALLY make it fun. Many people cringe when they learn that I taught at Oak Ridge High School. In the 8 years I was there, I wrote less than a dozen referrals because I know how to engage students and inspire them to enjoy each and every moment of learning through fine art references, humor and appreciating the quality feeling of gaining knowledge to become a better person.
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