A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I earned my BA in English and a Teaching Certificate in Grades 7-12 from St. Joseph’s University. I also hold an MS in Educational Studies from Johns Hopkins University, as well as a Graduate Certificate from Hopkins as part of their Mind, Brain, and Teaching Program which blends cognitive science and brain science and better informs my teaching and practices. Lastly, I also have a Graduate Certificate in Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Having worked as a Learning Specialist and English/Language Arts Instructor since 2004 in several diverse and inclusive learning communities, I aspire to cultivate the positive, empathetic, and extreme learner in each of my students. I want them to be curious and self-motivated across units of study, and I want them to develop strong social-emotional skills and exercise compassion.Through literature study, I encourage my students to connect with the characters they encounter and the worlds they explore. The novels we read are engaging and challenging and encourage students to think beyond the classroom. To quote L.R. Knost, “Some say they get lost in books, but I find myself, again and again, in the pages.” I hope my students find themselves again and again within my classroom and through our shared studies.
When I’m not reading or teaching, I enjoy hiking with my husband, a fellow educator, and my daughter, a student at McLean. I also love studying empirical research on the developing adolescent brain and streaming Netflix shows recommended by my students.