Q: Why did you choose to pursue a career in education?
A: School came easy to me, and the idea of being able to change a student’s life for the better was my number one goal. Any way of helping a student reach their goals, and for them to be happy, is very important to me.
Q: How much teaching experience did you have before moving to high school?
A: After I graduated, I was a long-term substitute at other schools. I started out teaching at Trinity High School during the 2013-2014 school year, moved down to the Middle School during the 2017-2018 school year, and I am back here this year.
Q: How does teaching high school students differ from teaching middle school ones?
A: The high school students want to be in these classes. They are interested in these fields and could pursue them after high school, like management marketing and web design. While in middle school, the students were required to take my classes. There is a higher level of thinking here and an ability to produce higher-level work.
Q: What is your favorite part about teaching, and why?
A: Getting every student to smile every day, whether it be a joke or just an interaction. I like keeping projects open-ended so that they can pick something that is their favorite for their answer, like in web design, where we have a favorite entertainer project. They get to do what people in the real world do, which gives students experience that will help them in the future.
Q: What are the classes that you teach?
A: I mainly teach business education classes, it was a passion of mine when I was in high school. The specific classes I teach are Web Design, Sports & Entertainment Marketing, Foundations of Management, Virtual Business 1 and 2 and a mathematics class.
Q: What was it that drew you to teaching at THS?
A: I interviewed at a bunch of different schools, but Trinity was the first place to give me the opportunity for a full-time teaching job. I didn’t know much about the school, other than that I had played against them when I went to Baldwin. We are a forward-thinking school, trying to prepare its students for post-secondary education and the real world.
Q: How has your experience been at THS so far?
A: It is entirely different from when I was here before. We have evolved from not just standard material to a wide range of options for students, like with our CTE programs. When I was here in 2013-2014 they weren’t available. So there is a lot more material, and it has been challenging with all the material to cover. But I am starting to get a grasp of it, and the kids have been great. Seeing how students have changed from when I had them in middle school, and how they interpret material, is very fulfilling to me.
Q: How long have you worked at Trinity and how long do you hope to stay?
A: It is my twelfth year teaching here, and I hope to finish my teaching career here, I have no plans for moving on to anywhere else.
Q: Do you have anything else to add?
A: I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to teach the kids here; they come with an open mind and give their best effort, and it has been nothing but a great experience. I’ve already been on a field trip for the foundations of management class, and going on another marketing trip where there are financial benefits if we win. Trying to get the kids out to business-related events, developing these areas for students and allowing them to interact with professionals, is extremely important for these fields. These students are so lucky to have these opportunities, I for sure didn’t have them when I was in high school.
