I have always been a curious, inquisitive person. I love the process of intellectual inquiry, and I often find myself researching strange concepts and engaging in heated discussions about nonsense with my wife, who shares my interest in basically everything. One of the other constants throughout my life has been my quest to find the playful humor in life and to make the people around me smile and chuckle, if not burst into laughter. Over the past sixteen years, I have worked to bring these quirks into my classroom and teaching to foster a community that prioritizes connection, individual empowerment, and a healthy dose of whimsy and humor.
After earning a BA in English and American Literature at Brandeis University, I moved to Florida and, in a way, fell into teaching as an exploratory venture. I immediately fell in love with the comradery I built with my students, and I knew within a year that it was my calling and passion. I eventually moved back to my home state of New Hampshire, where I continued working in the classroom at a newly built high school, where I helped to build curricula and culture from the ground up. I then took a short break from teaching, and after a few years spent tutoring and pursuing graduate credits in curriculum and instruction, I returned to an instructional role at a small middle school, where I quickly developed a reputation as a thoughtful, caring writing teacher whose style and methodology make students truly feel a sense of belonging and self-actualization. My room also became known as a place of laughter and authenticity, as I always aimed to create meaningful and memorable experiences for my classes.
I’m thrilled to be part of the McLean team as the grade 8 English teacher. My drive to truly understand and enrich the lives of my students match with McLean’s Core Values.