I am so excited to be teaching in the Lower School. I received my BA in History and Sociology from Franklin & Marshall College and my master’s degree in Elementary Education/Teaching from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining McLean, I was a grade 3 teacher at Match Community Day in Boston, Massachusetts, and I previously worked at Neighborhood Charter School in Harlem, New York. Teaching made me fall in love with working with children and seeing them achieve that “light bulb” or “aha” moment. I am trained in Orton-Gillingham, which is my favorite way to achieve those special learning moments in reading.
Grade 4 is my favorite age to teach. Students are given a chance to begin to spread their academic wings and flourish. It is a time of growth and perseverance that many children thrive in. I value seeing my students grow into having their own voices in the classroom as the year moves along. One of the most useful training I have learned while at McLean is Restorative Practices, a way to make sure students are seen, heard, understood, and supported.
My students always love it when we take math skills and turn them into fun games. One of the best activities that we’ve done is throw a bunch of paper “snowballs.” If they find a yellow snowball across the room, they have to bring it back and solve the problem inside the yellow snowball.
Outside of school, I love to spend time with my dog, Chloe, and my wife. I like to read, hike, and play basketball and tennis in my free time. I love to watch my New York/New Jersey sports teams and listen to good music.