Once I decided to return to school, I immediately decided on becoming a high school English teacher. I love to teach. I realized all I wanted was the challenge of a classroom teaching the subject where I feel the most comfortable. Not only that, but I feel from English so many other critical skills can be developed that even those that do not intend to go to college can use in their daily lives or future careers. Being able to express yourself clearing and distinctly can be useful and most of the time essential in any profession.
I could define literacy in a very traditional way as an English teacher, but I see literacy as not only reading a book and spouting off knowledge written or orally. Literacy also means viewing what is read from different perspectives. Literacy means viewing a painting, a movie, a real-life interaction and interpret and analyze those observations from critical perspective to understand the reasoning of the whys, hows, and what nows. Literacy builds on the foundation of knowledge and using that knowledge to interpret situations with a defined critical eye built from personal experience and exposure to a variety of media.
I seek new ways to engage the student in an English classroom mixing conventional and innovative techniques for a unique student experience.
When I am not up late into the night thinking about education issues, I destress from my hectic life by watching movies and reading incessantly. I also love sitting down with my wife and watching our two favorite TV series, Downton Abbey and The Walking Dead. When the weather permits in Logan, I hike, backpack, and camp with my family.
