For the past 10 years, I have taught English in independent schools in the DMV. I am thrilled to be part of McLean’s transformative mission. I grew up on the south shore of Boston in Quincy, Massachusetts. Home to a number of presidents and more importantly, Dunkin’ Donuts! My diverse interest in the humanities led me to pursue a liberal arts degree at Dickinson College, where I majored in Art History and Spanish. I subsequently went on to earn a master’s degree at Georgetown University in Spanish. My love for reading and writing spans across disciplines, and I am deeply excited to find cross-curricular connections in my instruction. My studies of Spanish have strengthed my understanding of the nuances of the English language and have provided me with a clear perspective on how to teach the parts of speech. In other words, I’m a huge grammar nerd, and I love what I do! I am also passionate about incorporating art into my instruction of English as a way to spark creative thinking and student engagement. I love exploring ways to incorporate visual thinking into the classroom. By participating in professional development programs at various museums in DC, I have been able to build on my passion for art history and discover new ways to innovate writing instruction to pique student interest and allow them to think creatively. I am also passionate about supporting our students with learning challenges and have participated in a variety of workshops to help better meet student needs in the classroom. Namely, I am trained in Step Up to Writing and participated in the AIM Institute Pathways to Proficient Writing and JST ADHD Coach training. I always start off the year with a descriptive writing activity called “Explode the Moment.” Students are challenged to make a simple scenario into a detailed creative piece of writing to appeal to the senses. I encourage them to think of a snapshot in time and unpack all the sensory details that come to mind. From a chaotic school bus to a peaceful pond to a favorite restaurant, the descriptions widely vary, making for incredibly interesting final products. It is an excellent exercise for both creative thinking and understanding the impact of elaboration. Parents are often blown away by the level of detail their blossoming writers are able to provide! I’m thrilled to have a career that lets me help students develop their unique interests and talents.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy running (while simultaneously listening to an audiobook), crocheting, and spending time with my family.