CV/Resume

OBJECTIVE         To obtain an instructor position in theatre and creative writing at an accredited post-secondary institution

EDUCATION                 Bachelor of Arts in Education                                                                              December 2012

                                          Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

                                  Licensed: English Literature & Language Arts/6-12

Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting                                                                      December 2009

                Graduated Cum Laude

Bachelor of Science in Journalism                                                                                May 2007

Bachelor of Arts in English                                                                                           May 2007

University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

RELEVANT                    Literature                                Story Development               Journalism                              Playwriting 

COURSEWORK             Creative Writing                     Literary Analysis      Exceptionalities     Literacy Training                   

                                                               

WORK HISTORY              Student Teacher (Literature & Language Arts)                                  August 2012-December 2012

                                                Wichita East High School, Wichita, Kansas

·         Lesson Plan Development

·         Classroom Management

Cooperative Paraeducator (Algebra & Geometry)                                     February 2011-May 2012

                                                Wichita Southeast High School, Wichita, Kansas

·         Classroom Monitoring

·         Individual Tutoring & Mentoring

Sales Associate and Baker’s Assistant                                                      May 2006-August 2010

                                                Muncher’s Bakery, Lawrence, Kansas

·         Managed Facilities

·         Trained New Hires

·         Transacted Daily Business

Student Teacher (Journalism)                                                              August 2007-December 2007

Rosedale Middle School, Kansas City, Kansas

·         Team Teaching

Student Public Safety Officer                                                                   August 2005-May 2006

University of Kansas, Public Safety Office

·         Patrolled Facilities

·         Reported Unlawful Activities

VOLUNTEER                    Actor/Volunteer/Playwright/Director                                              November 2010-Present

EXPERIENCE                   Wichita Community Theater, Wichita, Kansas

·         Readers’ Theatre Committee Member

·         Assessed Original Scripts for Staged Readings

Tutor, SUCCESS in the Middle                                                    November 2010-December 2010

Wichita Area Middle Schools, Wichita, Kansas

·         Regular Tutor of 6 Sudents at Brooks MS

·         Counseled Students on School Projects

·         Monitored Math and English Homework

Actor/Playwright/Stagehand                                                            September 2007- June 2010

English Alternative Theater, University of Kansas

·         Wrote and Aided in Original Script Production

·         Provided Constructive Feedback to Student Playwrights and Actors

·         Oversaw Sound, Set, and Lighting Design

TECHNICAL                     Microsoft Office Suite, Dr. Format, Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign Suite, Audio/Visual Components,

SKILLS                                 Sound Board Operations, Light Board Operations, Online Publishing, Social Media Marketing

ACTIVITES                      Winner, American Vision Award, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards                                        2003

AND HONORS               Three Time Recipient, Grant K. Goodman Playwriting Award                          2006, 2007, 2008

                                           Member, Gold Key National Honor Society                                                                           2007

Nominee, David Mark Cohen Playwriting Award                                                                   2009

Nominee, Mary Jane Teal Award for Best Supporting Actor in Stage Comedy                        2012

Establishing Setting, Plot, & Mood

This opening to a film, I think, is the best way of showing how to establish a hook that pulls the reader/viewer directly into the setting, mood, and plot of a universe which they have hitherto unexplored. Imagine, if you will, that it is 1977 and you are perhaps a 14-or-15-year-old kid. You are in the squeaky seats of the old 3-screen theater in your little hometown. You and your best buddy flipped a coin between seeing Smokey and the Bandit or this space-film by some guy you've never heard of named George Lucas...

"Dude," Your friend whispers. "I hear the chick in this first scene... she isn't wearing a bra."

You snicker and shake your head. "Whatever, man," you say.

The lights dim. The cheesy elevator music dies out. The projector flutters to life and suddenly you see this...

My Educational Philosophy Statement

Shakespeare attributes King Lear with a brilliant lamentation; that “When we are born, we cry, that we are come to this great stage of fools.” This quote serves me in my understanding of education by sounding upon the key concept that all knowledge is unknowable and while students may grow old and reach a level some would call “maturity,” they never cease their learning. As a teacher I am still a student and I intend to point out to my future students that intellect, feeling, strength, and position in life are what you make of them.

I believe that education is a life-long endeavor of individuals to make sense of the world surrounding them and the role they play in it. Through physical, emotional, social, and intellectual experiences, the students learn about established practices, canonical thinking, and the status quo with the aid of an authoritative guide who challenges them to question every precept.

This guide, it is important to state, is aware of his own status as a learner teaching a fellow learner and is hesitant—in fact reticent—of brandishing absolute authority and wisdom. A guide is unbiased, ethical, open-minded, and always willing to help a student along the never-ending journey toward understanding. A want to improve drives all learning. A teacher strives to gain as well as give, walking beside the student in conversation and doing his best to allow progressive thought to take hold and lead the experiment toward a series of epiphanies that define the student’s individuality.

More than just preparation for the future or a ladder of achievements denoting merit and determining employment, education is a way of life. At the heart of learning is curiosity and inquiry. Learning to ask the important questions as we discover them helps us find depth and purpose in our lives. Helping students to develop a deep love and respect for themselves, others, the society as a whole and their environment occurs through an open sharing of ideas and a judicious approach to discipline. Making mistakes and understanding consequences keeps us aware of our impact on the world and the importance of constant reflection and adjustment.

Each student is unique and self-motivated. They obtain knowledge through interactions and construct curriculum from what is seen, heard, and done. A teacher actively engages students in constructivist activities and encourages discussion and cooperative learning. This teacher does not mold the students’ minds, merely helps the minds to mold themselves and define the world in their own terms. A teacher presents essential and perennial texts and allows students to accept or reject them while demanding rationale for all statements and conclusions. A teacher uses emotion, memory, reason and external stimuli to expand the students’ universe and challenge the students’ presuppositions.

I ascribe to the idea that a teacher acts as a facilitator of learning, serving as a resource guiding exploration, helping students to gather evidence and draw conclusions through the use of the main branches of philosophy. This is done in the safest most congenial manner, respecting the culture, background, thoughts, opinions, and intelligence of all students, while meeting the educational standards set forth by our society.

I feel students need compassionate, strong, and dedicated individuals who embrace the role of luminary with humility and a sense of adventure. This teacher strives to meet his students’ individual needs, works to instill a sense of purpose in their lives, and respects, above all else, the diversity of their thoughts, opinions, and cultural backgrounds. Though education may never yield a universal understanding for any of us, it is important that we strive always to better ourselves, our students, and our society through the expansion, dissemination and distilment of knowledge. I only hope I can serve as one of many teachers each of my students’ will discover through the course of their lives.