I received my BA in English Literature from SUNY New Paltz. After teaching for a number of years in traditional and nontraditional school settings, I decided to work towards a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Education with a concentration in English Language Arts, which I received from Trinity Washington University. Prior to arriving at McLean in 2013, I taught for several Washington, DC high schools. Over the course of my tenure in McLean’s Middle School, I have engaged in professional development opportunities ranging from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Restorative Practices, and the Wilson Reading System, as well as various in-house professional development focused on reading across the content areas and initiatives to increase students’ reading fluency and comprehension. As a grade 7 literature teacher, I choose and teach an array of fiction and nonfiction texts that facilitate a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world. A favorite lesson that students enjoy is learning about how we all have biases. When students are able to understand this truth, it allows them to move towards acceptance and an ability to see the world with a clearer perspective.
When not teaching and planning, I enjoy reading, hiking, working on my house, and spending time with my wife and two sons.