Rooted in growth.
Grounded in possibility.
My education career began in elementary settings where I worked as both a paraprofessional and substitute teacher, building a foundational understanding of literacy development across ages and grade levels. After focusing on family, I returned to education and earned my teaching credentials and adding additional experience as a tutor and a teacher before moving onto higher education where I continue to work as a professor of English. My education and experience have worked to enable me to understand learners at every level which allows me to meet them where they are.
My credentials include a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with a focus in English Studies from Arizona State University, graduate coursework in applied linguistics, and ongoing doctoral studies in English Literature. In addition to continued learning through education and professional development, I hold memberships in AZTESOL, AETA, NCTE/CCCC, TESOL, MLA and GSOLE, which are all professional organizations that keep me grounded in current research and best practices.
My experience and credentials have provided the foundation for my teaching philosophy. My work is driven by a student-centered philosophy rooted in building confidence, fostering holistic growth, and honoring each learner’s individual pace. I bring experience working with learner’s who possess various needs and backgrounds, including those in exceptional educational settings. Whether you’re working within a specific curriculum or need me to design custom lessons, I adapt to what serves you best.
Every learner is unique
No two learning journeys look the same. We build every experience around the individual — their pace, their strengths, their story.
Holistic by design
We see the whole learner — not just the skill gap. Confidence, curiosity, and voice matter as much as grammar and comprehension.
Warmth at the center
Learning flourishes in a safe, nurturing space. Every session begins with trust and ends with possibility.
Why Choose Saguaro Blooms
I chose this name because the saguaro cactus embodies everything I believe about learning and growth. Unlike wildflowers that I sow in my garden that bloom quickly and fade, the saguaro takes time. It establishes deep roots, upon which it builds a strong structure while developing resilience to withstand any challenge the desert brings. That steady, supported growth is what creates something truly lasting and beautiful.
I see every learned the same way. There is potential and beauty in every student, at every stage of learning. Growth isn’t about speed, it’s about depth, resilience, and becoming stronger through process. Each learner’s journey is unique. Your pace is yours. And when you bloom, it will be rooted in something solid that will sustain you. Every learner bloom at their own pace is not simply a tagline but encompasses my philosophy.
The seed to harvest philosophy
Plant the seed
Every learner begins somewhere. We meet them there — with patience, without judgment — and plant the seed of confidence and curiosity.
Tend with care
Growth is not linear. We nurture each learner through their individual seasons — celebrating progress and navigating challenges together.
Harvest the possibility
The harvest looks different for every learner — a first chapter written, a voice found, a new language spoken with pride and confidence.