TEACHERS

Hello! My name is Taylor Bailey, and this is my 3rd year teaching at Dover! I graduated from Rowan University in May 2024 with a Bachelor's in Music Education. Go, Profs! I am so excited to have choir back in the school day and to make awesome music this year.  

I have taught 8th-grade mathematics at Dover Middle School since September 2020. Before Dover, I taught 6th- and 7th-grade math at Garfield Middle School for three years. I earned my BA in graphic design from Montclair State University. Afterward, I earned my Elementary Education certification with a Concentration in Mathematics from William Paterson in 2014. Outside of work, I love going to Broadway shows and traveling with my husband.

I am a 7th-grade mathematics teacher who enjoys finding creative ways to make math engaging, relevant, and connected to the real world. This year, I am excited to teach Sports by the Numbers, a course that explores sports through data and statistics, where students learn to analyze trends, evaluate claims, and use evidence to make sense of the numbers behind the games they love. My goal is to help students become confident problem solvers and critical thinkers who understand that math is about much more than simply finding the right answer. Outside of the classroom, I coach Track & Field and Cross Country at Dover Middle School, where I continue to encourage students to challenge themselves, work together, and grow through effort and perseverance.

I have been teaching at Dover Public Schools since 1998. I began by teaching the Dover Middle School Band. I also taught Dover High School Band for 7 years. I have been teaching the Bands at DMS and EDE for a while now. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College in PA. I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance, with a focus on Classical Trumpet and Jazz. As a proud graduate of Dover High, I cherish every moment I spend working with our students and helping them develop a lifelong love of music. 

I began my career at Dover Public Schools in 2008 as a Business Education teacher at Dover High School. I taught Computer Applications, Marketing, Career Exploration, Accounting I, Personal Finance, and Business Law. Additionally, I coordinated the Cooperative Education/Structured Learning Experience program and co-advised the Yearbook club. I moved to Dover Middle School in 2012, where I served as the proctor for the World Language computer lab. From September 2014 through June 2022, I taught elementary Keyboarding and the PARCC infrastructure. I have taught Personal Finance at DMS since September 2022.

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I have been teaching at Dover Middle School since graduating from William Paterson University in 2003. I then earned an M.Ed. in Literacy and Curriculum Supervision (2013) and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (2017). This year, I am teaching a new 7th-grade elective course, "Ink & Inspiration: Creativity at Work." I also advise Character Counts and Helping Hands and serve as a student mentor. I live nearby in Rockaway with my husband, twin sons, and daughter.

I have taught in Dover since 2016 and taught science before developing the 8th-grade coding class.  I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Albany, where I majored in Geology.  In my spare time, I can be found hiking, skiing, and road-tripping around the country.

Hello! My name is Caroline Fernandez, and I teach 7th-grade Spanish. This is my fourth year teaching at Dover Middle School, and I love connecting with all my students and the cultural diversity they bring to the classroom. I have a Bachelor's degree in World Languages and Cultures, and this is my fifth year teaching. I enjoy spending time with my own children and taking them to explore different cultures around the world, learning through travel, whether near or far.

Hello! My name is Lauren Gallagher, and I teach 7th-grade art. I have 19 years of teaching experience and have taught fine arts to students from elementary through high school. This is my 10th year teaching 7th-grade art in Dover. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education from SUNY New Paltz. My goal is to create a warm and creative environment that welcomes all learners.

Hello all, 

My name is Tyler VanAtter, and I am teaching the "Order in the Court" Civics course here at Dover Middle School. I previously taught U.S. History and World History at Dover High School for three years. I received my B.A. Degree in History and my M.Ed. in Social Studies Education from Rutgers University. I look forward to a great school year here at Dover Middle School.

Mr. Eric Zalis is a dedicated Spanish educator at Dover Middle School with more than 19 years of experience teaching Spanish at all levels, including Spanish I–V Honors, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, and Spanish Heritage courses. His passion for the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures began as a Rotary International exchange student in Bogotá, Colombia, and continued during the six years he lived and worked in Madrid, Spain. In addition to his extensive classroom experience, Mr. Zalis has served as a Spanish National Honor Society advisor and has coached ice hockey, soccer, basketball, tennis, and Little League baseball. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from American University and a Master's degree in Education from Marygrove College.  Eric has continued his graduate studies in education and English as a Second Language (ESL). Mr. Zalis is committed to creating an engaging, supportive, and culturally responsive classroom where students can strengthen their Spanish language skills, celebrate their heritage, and appreciate the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.