The Teacher
A history of knowledge sharing
Teaching has been woven throughout my post-high school education and career. From leading photography workshops and training new hires in my early retail jobs to being hired to teach the first half of the curriculum at the very code school I attended—I’ve always found joy in sharing knowledge.
While I’ve taught in official roles, most of my teaching has been through community work and volunteer opportunities. Early on, I realized that the best way to truly master something is to teach it—a philosophy I’ve embraced ever since. Whether it’s mentoring, speaking, or just nerding out over code with fellow developers, I’m always eager to learn, share, and grow together.
Community Mentoring
Throughout my tech career, I’ve been passionate about mentoring and supporting underrepresented groups in tech. I’ve taught both formal and impromptu workshops on a variety of technical topics and worked one-on-one with aspiring developers looking to break into the field.
My journey with Women Who Code began in 2016 in Portland, Oregon, where I started as a volunteer and quickly stepped into a tech lead role. There, I organized monthly study nights, writing and teaching workshops—first on Open Source Technologies, then on my favorite subject: CSS.
After moving to Denver, Colorado, I took on a director role for the local chapter while continuing to lead technical workshops twice a month. Most of my time in this role was during COVID, which meant finding creative ways to keep participants engaged in a virtual setting—a challenge that only strengthened my love for teaching and community building.
Toastmasters
I first joined Toastmasters in 2017, then rejoined in 2022 to further hone my public speaking skills with the goal of delivering impactful technical workshops at a conference. I achieved that goal in my first year—proof that persistence and practice really pay off!
In addition to improving my speaking skills, I had the opportunity to practice leadership in the 2022-2023 Toastmasters year, serving as club secretary on the executive committee. It was a rewarding experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally.