This is your first year teaching in the Middle School. What brought you to Bryn Mawr?

I was living in Philadelphia and finishing a master’s program there while teaching at a high school in the city. I am originally from Maryland, so I was looking for a way to come back to this area. After meeting [Dean of Faculty] Elaine Swyryn at an AIMS job fair, I applied to the position. But I think what really brought me here was the positive energy I felt on campus from both the students and the other faculty. I thought this would be a really great fit, and it has been.

You previously taught high school – what has the transition to teaching middle school been like?

There is more scaffolding that has to be done, especially for the incoming sixth graders, in terms of helping them transition to life as middle schoolers. But they are so eager and energetic, which is really wonderful. It has been awesome to start with them at the beginning of a skill, like analytical writing. It has also helped me to learn as a teacher, because I’ve had to think about how to explain things like gathering evidence and crafting a thesis, and then break it down in a way that they can understand.

What do you hope for students to gain from your class?

Not every kid is going to love English or history, but I hope for them to learn something about themselves and about the world around them. On the first day of school, I asked them to pick out a book – any book – that had transformed them in some way, and then we made a display with all of their responses. I focus a lot on message and on themes, and the important messages that we can derive from different stories. If they learn a little bit more about themselves as readers and writers, and a little bit more about the people around them – particularly people who aren’t like them – that will make me happy.

You’re alone on a deserted island. What three items do you need to have with you (assuming food, water and shelter are already taken care of)?

I’d definitely need a good book – I’d probably take a novel by Gillian Flynn, who is one of my favorite authors. Some good music…maybe an iPod powered by the sun? And a journal.
 
What do you most need for a day at Bryn Mawr?

Coffee, for sure! Multiple cups.
What is your teaching philosophy?

Literacy is not only about reading the words, but also about reading the world. I want students to be able to make deeper connections to themselves and to other people, and to understand the world around them.
Located in Baltimore, Maryland, The Bryn Mawr School is a private all-girls pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school with a coed preschool for ages 2 months through 5 years. Bryn Mawr provides students with exceptional educational opportunities on a beautiful 26-acre campus within the city limits. Inquisitive girls, excellent teaching, strong student-teacher relationships and a clear mission sustain our vibrant school community where girls always come first.