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Years Teaching Overall: 29
Years Teaching at Key School: 8
Currently teaching: 10th grade Integrated Science-Energy and 12th grade Advanced Chemistry
Proudest teaching moment: “As a chemistry teacher, I watch students struggle with the abstract, complex ideas of the subject. Even after all these years, the biggest thrill of my career is witnessing students suddenly understand a new concept. Sometimes that happens during a class discussion when a student connects ideas and suddenly, everything makes sense. I am even more impressed by my students when that eureka moment happens as I help a student who had to work hard and get extra help to reach that point. Young people are capable of such perseverance and determination that it is an honor to work with them and help them with their learning. In terms of curriculum, I am extremely proud of the work my colleagues and I have done designing our new integrated science curriculum, and I’m very excited to be teaching the new course.”
Teaching Philosophy: “Students deserve to be taught material that will challenge them and help them develop intellectually. They also deserve support and encouragement so they can meet those challenges. When we begin our discussions on a new topic, I ask leading questions that help students see how that topic relates to their experiences and to concepts they have already studied. In this way, they are able to construct a sophisticated and enduring understanding of the topics. Our integrated curriculum facilitates such learning because students think like scientists. They are not bound by artificial, traditional disciplines. Rather they see broad concepts like the drive for stability in examples as diverse as a diver plunging from a platform to batteries to cellular respiration.”
Toughest challenge facing educators: “One of the big challenges facing educators is students who are distracted from their studies by outside pressures. At Key, we work hard to create a supportive community of learners. Our goal is for all of our students to feel that they can reach out to friends and teachers whenever they need support or guidance. We focus on the process of learning and encourage students to see mistakes not as failures but as an important part of the learning process. If you never make mistakes, you are not taking enough risks and challenging yourself. My colleagues and I try to make our classrooms and our school a place where students are free to make mistakes and where they are confident they will get the support they need to learn from them.”
Key School, Annapolis
Years Teaching Overall: 29
Years Teaching at Key School: 8
Currently teaching: 10th grade Integrated Science-Energy and 12th grade Advanced Chemistry
Proudest teaching moment: “As a chemistry teacher, I watch students struggle with the abstract, complex ideas of the subject. Even after all these years, the biggest thrill of my career is witnessing students suddenly understand a new concept. Sometimes that happens during a class discussion when a student connects ideas and suddenly, everything makes sense. I am even more impressed by my students when that eureka moment happens as I help a student who had to work hard and get extra help to reach that point. Young people are capable of such perseverance and determination that it is an honor to work with them and help them with their learning. In terms of curriculum, I am extremely proud of the work my colleagues and I have done designing our new integrated science curriculum, and I’m very excited to be teaching the new course.”
Teaching Philosophy: “Students deserve to be taught material that will challenge them and help them develop intellectually. They also deserve support and encouragement so they can meet those challenges. When we begin our discussions on a new topic, I ask leading questions that help students see how that topic relates to their experiences and to concepts they have already studied. In this way, they are able to construct a sophisticated and enduring understanding of the topics. Our integrated curriculum facilitates such learning because students think like scientists. They are not bound by artificial, traditional disciplines. Rather they see broad concepts like the drive for stability in examples as diverse as a diver plunging from a platform to batteries to cellular respiration.”
Toughest challenge facing educators: “One of the big challenges facing educators is students who are distracted from their studies by outside pressures. At Key, we work hard to create a supportive community of learners. Our goal is for all of our students to feel that they can reach out to friends and teachers whenever they need support or guidance. We focus on the process of learning and encourage students to see mistakes not as failures but as an important part of the learning process. If you never make mistakes, you are not taking enough risks and challenging yourself. My colleagues and I try to make our classrooms and our school a place where students are free to make mistakes and where they are confident they will get the support they need to learn from them.”
