Overview

I have 24 years of experience as a creator of middle- and high school science textbook programs. For nine of those years, I worked for a major textbook publisher--Holt, Rinehart and Winston. For the remainder, I have mainly worked as a freelance writer and editor. I have written labs, state assessments, video scripts, and chapter manuscripts for both print and online platforms. Some of the companies I have worked for include Discovery Education, Encyclopedia Britannica, Thinkwell, TCI, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Apex Learning, and PowerSchool.

Through the course of my career, I have continuously developed my writing, substantive editing, copy editing, and project management skills. I enjoy generating ideas for page layouts and educational illustrations, and finding creative ways to communicate complex concepts so that they can be easily understood.

Services

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Editorial Assessment

Proofreading

Non-Fiction

Children’s Non-Fiction Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences Education & Reference Mathematics & Statistics Nature Physics & Chemistry Writing & Publishing

Languages

English

Certifications

B.S. in Geology, Texas Tech University

Work experience

Freelance Writer and Editor

Self-Employed

Jan, 2015 — Present

• Writing and editing of high-quality educational science content, specializing in print and online student editions, teacher editions, labs, activities, state achievement tests and exit exams, and online assessments
• Lead editor for the Teacher’s Curriculum Institute (TCI) middle school textbook, Planet Earth. Developed program outline designed to meet NGSS, wrote, edited, designed illustrations and page layouts, preformed photo research, and revised program content per reviewer comments.
• Editor for online version of the TCI middle school textbook, Weather and Climate. Developed and tested lab activities, performed photo research, and ensured NGSS were met.

Copy Editor

Thinkwell Corporation

Jan, 2013 — Aug, 2015 (over 2 years)

• Copy edited and proofread textbook manuscripts and instructional videos.
• Wrote marketing copy for college-level math programs including algebra, precalculus, and statistics.

Freelance Writer and Editor

Self-Employed

Jan, 2008 — Jan, 2013 (about 5 years)

• Wrote and edited student editions, teacher editions, labs, and activities.
• Wrote assessment items for middle school state achievement tests and high school state exit exams.

Supervising Editor

Holt, Rinehart and Winston/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

May, 2007 — Sep, 2007 (4 months)

• Drove development of relational database to strategically increase market share. Database includes product information, state curriculum standards correlated to content, and detailed market data.
• Used database to synthesize market research and content correlations to customize existing content more easily for previously untapped markets. Supervised data entry and correlation of science curriculum standards for 30+ states.
• Ensured editors could make use of correlations in database to create new chapter outlines that fit a broader set of state curricula.
• Performed market research and used it to develop a publishing strategy to target additional state markets based on similarities in science curricula.
• Increased efficiency and streamlined development of customized, state-specific middle school science textbook programs.

Executive Editor

Holt, Rinehart and Winston/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Jan, 2005 — May, 2007 (over 2 years)

• Managed three senior editors, ten editors, and several development houses to produce highly competitive middle school science programs for the national market, customized national textbook programs for California and Georgia, managed programs with multimillion-dollar budgets.
• Met production deadlines. Ensured timely program approval by effectively communicating with Marketing, Sales, Production, Finance, and Design departments.
• Enabled California textbook series adoption through representation of the company in the state adoption process. The California textbook series became one of most successful middle school science programs in California.

Senior Editor

Holt, Rinehart and Winston

Jan, 2001 — Jan, 2005 (about 4 years)

• Directed development of high-school Earth science and environmental science textbook programs. Managed five editors, production schedules, and several development houses.
• Located and enlisted three high-profile authors to write new content for the Earth science program.
• Saved approximately $60K in printing costs by working with Design and Production to create prototype page design that enabled three editions (New York, Florida, and national) to be printed on same print run.
• Worked with author and teacher advisors to create seven new chapters for the environmental science program.
• Supervised creation of entirely new ancillary product lines for the Earth science and environmental science programs.