The Garden of English

I have known that I wanted to be a high school English teacher since I was a high school freshman in 2000, and I have been teaching since 2008. In 2010 I was offered the opportunity to build the AP English Language program at my place of employment, and a year later I was asked to collaborate in instructing, and ultimately restructuring, the school's burgeoning AP Lit program. Since 2011 I have been working with students all across the state of MA assisting them and their teachers with strategies to maximize AP exam performance, and this year I was asked to run my first professional development. I currently teach all four grade levels 9-12, and have taught every level of learner imaginable; I have read at the national AP reading in Missouri; in the end, I wouldn't trade any of this experience for the world.

I don't teach English; I teach students: living, breathing, thoughtful, emotional individuals. I don't assign work; I teach skills. I strongly advise my students to build their skills while using my templates, and as the year continues, I encourage them to break free from my molds while keeping the critical components of my templates in their writing. I stress writing growth and reading freedom. Besides in timed settings, my students hardly ever think to write a five paragraph essay; surprisingly I never mention paper length to them; rather, they have one stipulation: make it good. I hardly ever see a paper less than 4 pages. Kids have something to say, so I encourage them to say it. There is no reason why learning should be boring, so I try to make sure it isn't.

2008--Armand Desmaris Award for Excellence in Teaching 2015--Invited to present at the Mass Insight Education Two-Day Teachers' Seminar

B.A.: Rhetoric, Writing, and Communications UMass Dartmouth. 3.91/4.0 MAT Secondary English Education UMass Dartmouth 4.0/4.0

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