I have been working in education in some capacity for the last ten years - seven of those have been spent teaching ESL and English at the middle school level. The quote above has been on the wall of my classroom for as long as I have been teaching, because it represents an important aspect of my teaching philosophy. I believe that students will be happy if they are growing, and it is my goal to help them grow in their understanding of the English language and in their ability to express their thinking through writing. I want students to leave my class with confidence in their ability to write about a variety of topics with focus, clarity, and detail. I want students to leave my class with the ability to write creatively, to use the language to craft interesting sentences that draw readers into a story. I want students to leave my class knowing they have a voice, and knowing that they can express their ideas, beliefs, and thoughts in writing in a meaningful way.

My wife, Sarah, and I have three children and a giant dog named Boone. We live on a little four acre "farm" in Acton, where we are trying raise our children with a love for the earth and a desire to be active and outside. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, running, cycling, and getting outside with my family.