Professional Qualifications
Education
Bachelor of Arts, English, University of Colorado, 1994
Teaching Certification, English, University of Colorado, 1994
Work Experience
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Written and edited hundreds of obituaries
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Obituary Writer, Murphy & Associates Funeral Home, 2012 – present
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Academic Tutor and Public Speaking Coach, 2010 – present
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Teacher, English Language Arts, Boulder High School, 1994 – 2010
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Department Chair, English Language Arts, Boulder High School, 2007 – 2010
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Member, National Council of Teachers of English, 1995 – 2010
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Member, Vertical Integration Team, Boulder Valley School District, 2000 – 2010
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Member, Curriculum Development Team, BVSD, 1998 – 2008
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Assisted over 1,500 students with college-admissions essays
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Soccer Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Boulder High School, 1995 - 2007
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Advanced-National Coach, National Soccer Coaches of America, 1996 – present
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Level-B-National Coach, United States Soccer Federation 2000 - present
Why I Started My Business, Composition by Carnes
My career as a teacher, coach and department chair offered me the opportunity to work with thousands of people, from ninth graders already garnering attention from MIT to colleagues with doctorates and decades of experience, from newly-arrived students who barely understood English to fellow teachers whose inexperience required guidance and support.
In the environment of a nationally competitive public high school, I learned many valuable lessons. Teaching 170 diverse pupils per day, plus running two soccer programs, demanded effective time management, varied instructional methods, and constant adaptation in an ever-advancing technological landscape.
“Initially, the ability to think on my feet served me well enough to survive, but the development of detailed organizational skills allowed me to flourish."
I also learned the importance of constantly increasing and diversifying my content-knowledge. Frequently, my students taught me, especially when it came to technology and recommended literature.
Since retiring in 2010, I have enjoyed helping friends complete writing projects, working with families preparing obituaries, and tutoring students through high school and college. I’ve written sample material for ACT and SAT practice tests, stories about real-life heroes from all walks of life, and maintained blogs about interests ranging from the personal to the professional.
These experiences have provided the spark to start this business and expand my horizons into the corporate and legal worlds. The knowledge I gained while teaching guides me in this exciting opportunity to help you, and I look forward to hearing from you about your project.
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