Introduce yourself! What class[es] do you currently teach, how long have you been at ASIJ, and what do you like to do outside of school? 

I have the pleasure of teaching Grade 9 English and Grades 11/12 Advanced Topics: Crime and Punishment.  Although I have only just joined ASIJ this fall, I have felt a sense of community in the hallways and within my classroom as well, which is heartwarming. Outside of school I am a university student, but I relax by spending time with good people and eating good food, reading amazing books and not so amazing books, and above all fitness! 

When did you discover your love for English? Did you always love it?

I fell in love with literature and composition in elementary school. I knew from a very young age that I would either be a teacher or a writer. I chose the more reliable profession of teaching, but have never lost my passion for writing. 

What is your opinion on AI (Chat GPT)? How, if at all, do you incorporate it into your teaching?

AI is a tool that will continue to evolve. Putting policies in place that prevent students from understanding effective ways to use the features will create more problems than working with students to understand appropriate uses. While I do not fully integrate it into my teaching (because I have a love of language and the challenge of expressing myself clearly and articulately), I do think it is important to open conversations about appropriate use of AI. 

Which is your favorite English skill: Reading, Writing, or Speaking?

Reading as a passive skill.  While I enjoy writing and can enjoy speaking, I prefer to visit other worlds through reading. 

Please give a book recommendation and explain why students should read this book. 

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood because it pushes our understanding of gender, religion, and survival. I also love The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros because it is beautifully written with language expressed prose and its meaning a salute to poetry. 

If you could teach a course based on your niche interest, what would it be? 

Fantasy and science fiction simply because to create worlds that do not fully exist is an art; and a course on rhetoric because the art of argument is based on language. 

What do you want students to take away from your classes? 

That they are capable communicators who possess a voice worthy of others hearing and an insight into literature worthy of sharing.