Abbey Griffith

Grade 6 (History)

My interest in how kids learn differently goes back to my own studies in Psychology and Law, where I became fascinated by the space where human development and advocacy meet, and it’s a passion I’ve carried into the classroom.

I was born and raised in Canada, where I earned my undergraduate degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax. My path to special education started before I ever set foot in a classroom of my own: I spent time working one-on-one with a non-speaking teenager as her homeschool teacher and communication aid, an experience that taught me how much students have to say when we give them the right tools and the space to say it. That experience pushed me toward graduate school, and I earned my master’s from American University’s School of Education, where I focused on special education and inclusive teaching practices. As part of that program I interned at McLean, where I learned invaluable lessons as an educator and built relationships with students and fellow educators at McLean. The community welcomed me so warmly that I felt like part of it almost immediately, which made saying yes to joining full-time an easy decision.

Outside of the classroom, I love to travel and always look for an excuse to go anywhere! When I’m not on the go, you’ll usually find me curled up with a good book.