About Me

ABOUT ME "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry B. Adams

I was born in Philadelphia in 1983 and as such I will always defend it when it is placed in New York’s shadow. Growing up in a suburb northeast of the city, I was fortunate enough to experience both the richness of cultural life at the city’s core while also appreciating the natural beauty of Pennsylvania’s Bucks County parks and historic landmarks. Attending Quaker schools from kindergarten until my graduation day from high school, and adopting the Quaker philosophy in those years, shaped who I am today: a self-motivated, reflective individual who refuses to accept anything less than a challenge both inside and outside of the classroom while keeping ideals of celebration, simplicity, integrity, peace, equality and community in my heart. My friends are the most important people in my life; giving unconditional love and support to someone who you can laugh with, cry with, and to whom you can reveal your true colors without facing rebuke is the greatest. It was in sixth grade when I first decided I would become a math teacher. Previously, my life’s ambitions included becoming a lawyer, painter, or writer, but my love for math and helping others defeat their notions of failing in the subject helped push education to the forefront of my thoughts…it also didn’t hurt that I viewed my math teacher at the time as unqualified and uncaring in his profession. I cringe when I hear someone say that they “can’t do math” or are “stupid when it comes to math.” It is my belief that everyone has the ability to excel in math and I hope to be the teacher that will draw this out of every child or person who has ever been doubted or who has ever doubted themselves.

I graduated from Colgate University in May 2006 as a double concentrator in Mathematics and English. I then completed Colgate's fifth year Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program. As far as my interests are concerned, I make every attempt to consider social justice and public achievement no matter how big or small the project is that I am currently working on. During my four years as an undergraduate and fifth year as a graduate student at Colgate I believe I became the best version of myself. The diversity of and long-term commitment to all of my campus involvements—including working for Residential Life and throwing myself into the efforts of various cultural groups, campus publicity, and volunteerism education—is something I point to with pride because it serves as evidence that I have paid careful attention to the holistic nature and essence of myself. For a more detailed list of what I was/am involved in please see my resumé. Presently I am working at Science Leadership Academy, a Philadelphia public school partnered with The Franklin Institute that uses project-based learning in a collaborative environment. Our school hopes to instill a scientific thought process in all of our students; our five fundamental values include inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, reflection. The greatest part of my job is seeing the students' minds in action; our students make their academics a priority while engaging in healthy social interaction.

I leave you with this: the greatest math word in existence, I believe, is integration.