Editor. Writer. Project Manager.
I'm a content writer and editor with over 20 years of experience writing about education, healthcare, and wellness. My skills range from proofreading and copyediting to copywriting, content development, and project management.
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By nature, I’m a people-oriented generalist. By background, I am a grammar nerd. My favorite projects are where my work will help to improve people's health and well-being. Women's and family health, mother-baby topics, K-12 education, and disability rights are some of my favorite topics to write about. What I do is usually behind the scenes, but I care deeply about the impact of my work on my clients and their customers.
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When I'm not working, I am an active school and disability advocate, contributing to several special education inclusion projects and sitting on the board of my children's PTA organizations. I'm passionate about the power of connection and kindness to improve the health and happiness in a community.
Freelance Work
I have edited and developed a number of courses for Texas Health Steps, the award-winning continuing education program for medical providers in the state of Texas.
Recent examples of modules written for this program include training for pediatricians on Autism, Transition Services for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs, Fentanyl, Breastfeeding, and Disaster Preparedness.
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https://www.txhealthsteps.com/
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I was brought on as a contract project manager and editor to create a service management manual, templates, and associated media to support a large technology implementation at the State of Texas Department of Information Resources.
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Enviromedia
Working closely with the marketing accounts team, I researched and wrote mobile app content for a parenting app for new dads. Topics included prenatal care, nutrition, self care, new baby care and wellness, and other related parent resources.
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https://www.dshs.texas.gov/healhtytexasbabies/parentstobe.aspx
Pearson Education | Farace Design
After leaving my full-time role with Pearson, I worked with one of our primary contractors, Carolyn Farace, providing editorial services, including research and fact checking, to support related Texas program materials and national online testing initiatives. Projects included creating promotional letters and documents for presentation, writing articles on education and technology, and editing a variety of technical and educational publications.
Work Samples
Breastfeeding Course
2022
I provided research and writing services for the 2022 update of this large interactive learning module, collaborating with subject matter experts at the State and with clinical reviewers.
Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing, Texas Health Steps, Texas Department of Health and Human Services
Mindfulness Course
2019
I wrote content and planned the interactive design here for a module on mindfulness for professionals. This is an example of the dozens of modules developed as both a contractor and employee at Verb on leadership, emotional intelligence, women in business, advocacy, and creativity.
Verb, professional development platform
Employment
Independent Writer & Editor
2010 - present
I research, write, edit, and manage content for education, healthcare, and technology projects. I have worked extensively on instructional content that is driven by subject-matter experts. My projects tend to have some instructional design needs. Some types of projects I've produced are:
Continuing education for physicians and medical providers.
Instructional design and content creation for a dynamic leadership development platform.
Mobile application on baby care and postpartum support for new parents.
Instructional manuals for state-mandated educational assessments.
Content Developer and Project Manager, Verb
April 2018 - April 2020
At Verb, I wrote and developed interactive professional development content, from the research phase through publishing via a custom subscription-based platform. Using instructional design principles, I created content, graphics, essay prompts, quizzes, and other features to make content relevant and engaging for adult learners. Working in a dynamic start-up environment, I created and monitored project schedules and collaborated with freelance contractors to complete work efficiently while maintaining high editorial standards.
Yoga Teacher and Disability Advocate
May 2014 - April 2018
While I wasn't working in my field during this period, that doesn't mean I wasn't working. While home with my young children, I learned a great deal about advocacy through my child who has Autism. In the more flexible space of my schedule, I completed two professional yoga teacher trainings and developed my own small business teaching early childhood-informed family yoga classes. I also volunteered as a teacher and as Vice President on the board for a community yoga and mindfulness nonprofit, Bliss Kid Yoga. These activities—and the experience of parenthood—continue to bring out the leader and connector in me.
Editorial Project Manager, Pearson
August 2006 - May 2010
As a project manager and editor for educator- and parent-facing online and printed assessment materials, I was responsible for large portions of the state assessment manuals used by teachers at over 1200 school districts as part of our contract with the Texas Education Agency. I worked closely with my colleagues at the State to meet challenging deadlines and make robust annual redesigns of several manuals. In the course of managing my products, I created and revised internal guidelines and style guides to better suit the functionality of the programs and the tone of our clients.
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I also spent over two years planning and creating educator-facing documentation for online test delivery. This role gave me extensive experience reviewing and discussing technical specifications with all stakeholders--developers, project managers, external clients, and internal customer service teams alike.
