About Me

Coding

I love Coding. The first time I programmed I was about 7 or 8 years old. My friend gave me a VTech Precomputer Power Pad Plus he no longer wanted. The best part about the machine was that it allowed you to program BASIC! This little device for kids allowed me to learn and program my first applications. At first I wrote simple text based games that always involved figuring out a password or combination.

When I was 9 or 10 I was enrolled at Walla Walla Community College’s Summer Kid’s College program. I enrolled in an HTML course. This was back when the dancing baby gif was all the rage. My website fit on a 3.5” floppy disk and I was very happy to learn how a little piece of the internet worked.

In the year 2000 I convinced my parents to buy me some game making software, my first engine. It was called the Game Creation System from Pie in the Sky. I spent the next couple years making games for myself. Dragon Racing was most notable. It runs on Win98 and XP. Maybe one day I’ll upload it here.

While in college I fixed people’s computers, started coding in Java for a class and for the new Android Operating System. I even got myself hired to write an android app for a small business.

As time went on I learned many languages and got fairly good at using the Unity game engine. Now I teach computer science full time and couldn’t be happier.

Teaching

I am currently teaching at Verdugo Hills High School. I am also the adviser to the Technology and Robotics Club.

I have taught AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A, Computer Science Discoveries, Exploring Computer Science, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Math 8, Math 7, CAHSEE prep (long ago), and intervention math courses for grades 7 & 8.

I am also Computer Science Discoveries facilitator partnered with Code.org. I received a B.A. in Mathematics with an emphasis in Secondary Teaching and my M.A. in Computers & Educational Technology at the California State University, Northridge. I was a National Science Foundation (NSF) Teaching Fellow from 2013-2017. Through this fellowship I participated in monthly professional development, regional and national conferences on mathematics teaching, and even presented at these conferences.

I have a strong belief that computers can open up how we have students interact and collaborate with mathematics inside and outside the classroom. My Master's thesis explored the use of Khan Academy at home and how it affects our students. Please explore the Teacher Stuff blog on this website to find many of my online interactive lessons and activities.

Programming Languages:

BASIC (Obviously)
Java
Javascript/Typescript
- NodeJS, Vue, React, EJS, etc.
GO (just a little bit)
C#
Python
R
HTML/CSS

Current Teacher at Verdugo Hills High School