My Story

I have always been called to teaching, for the simple reason that education is the critical foundation of any civilization. It is education that raises us up to be more than animals, to teach us how to get along with one another in a peaceful, organized society. It is education which teaches each generation of the accomplishments and discoveries of previous generations, allowing the sum of human understanding to passed on, and to grow over time. Not to mention current social ills: education for women is the silver bullet that can absolutely, guaranteed, end skyrocketing birth rates and curb overpopulation, if only it could be reliably provided around the world.

How could one not be drawn to education?

It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to come back to education someday, to become a teacher, maybe go into research, perhaps even start my own school (in the long run). But I knew that I couldn't go directly from student to teacher. That's why I took my twenties to explore. After graduating college, I worked a variety of odd jobs, saving up for an overseas trip. I spent almost a year in Asia, over two separate trips, teaching English and, ultimately, founding a small non-profit organization to raise environmental awareness among children in Nepal. That organization continues today under local leadership, Children for Green New Nepal.

Now, in my early thirties, I feel that I have the diversity of life experience to justify becoming a teacher. There's more to teaching than academic knowledge. I hope I'll never stop learning, but at last I feel like I'm a step farther than I was right out of college, ready to go back and have something unique to offer my students in high school.

In the long run, I still have grand visions of changing the face of education, but I know that that dream, while a wonderful star to reach for, can come neither quickly or easily. There is no fast track. While I may return to research some day, with an aim toward developing a new model of education, I know that there are many years teaching ahead of me before I'll feel prepared to take that step.

Today, my goals are much more grounded, but no less difficult: provide a space where every student in my class can grow and learn. Meet the needs of a diverse body of students, each of whom is unique in cultural background, social background, and academic readiness. Make my classroom a safe space.

I can't wait to meet my class!