What is your “WHY” for teaching? I want students and teachers to believe in themselves and use their passion and abilities to help others. I teach because students and teachers need a positive voice that is for them (link).
What is your area of expertise? Middle School – I love 8th graders!
What is your PBL experience? I helped start the first PBL middle school (school within a school) in the country in Indianapolis in a school with 75% free and reduced lunch. I have had the privilege of presenting and training over a thousand educators across the country. I also just published a book called PBL Simplified: 6 Steps to Move Project Based Learning from Idea to Reality.
What is your favorite aspect of PBL? Being a former Industrial Engineer, I love the way PBL prepares learners to be empowered and to use what they are learning in the real world. As an engineer for a Fortune 50 company, I saw success in engineering did not come from knowledge of Thermodynamics but from the ability to problem solve, work in groups, and communicate with others. I have seen PBL do this for kids from all walks of life. I think this message can be a game changing equity tool.
Why do you enjoy facilitating? PBL has changed my life and the lives of thousands of kids and adults I have worked with, so I want to share it with others.