Why do you think professional development is so important for teachers?
Each day I ask students to engage in the learning process which I facilitate in our shared classroom space. When teachers engage in active professional development opportunities that encourages them to explore new strategies and technology tools, take risks, keep up-to-date with best practices, create and critically think, it allows them to rethink teaching and learning when they are creating lessons that are student centered and consider the student experience
Tell us about your background and what brought you to Primary Source.
I am an Upper School History teacher and Head of the Global History Department at Beaver Country Day School. A native of Philadelphia, PA, I started my career as a social worker counseling adjudicated youth and helping them transition into the home and school setting. A product of Philadelphia’s public schools, I began my teaching career with the School District of Philadelphia where I taught history for five years at the high school level. Since 2005, I have taught in independent schools at the middle school and high school level. I came to Beaver in 2011 and have spent the past few years supporting teachers around using technology as an educational tool to enhance instructional practices, working with new teachers, advising student groups, and incorporating technology, and social justice into my classroom practice when teaching about past and current historical events. I speak Spanish fluently and have spent time living abroad in locations worldwide, including Rwanda, Mexico City, Spain, and Japan. I have a bachelor’s degree from Chestnut Hill College and a master’s degree in secondary education from St. Joseph’s University.
In 2015, I attended the week-long workshop, Teaching for Global Understanding, hosted by Primary Source. Each of the workshops aligned with the goals we had as a Global History department as we are committed to teaching students about global citizenship. In 2016, 3 additional members of our department also attended the workshop. Together, we continuously use resources from Primary Source in our lessons and activities with our students. In the summer of 2016, I went on a study tour with Primary Source and participated in the Spain and Morocco: Coexistence, Competition, and Culture trip. This experience provided many resources as I teach about the intersection of history, religion, political identity, geography, conflict and ethnicity when students learn about the Muslim, Catholic and Jewish influences which coexisted in these regions in the past and how this has impacted the world today.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
When I’m not working, I enjoy hiking, reading, and spending time with my 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son.
Where in the world would you most like to visit?
I’d like to spend time visiting a few countries in Southeast Asia.