1. Where did you go to school after you graduated?
I attended California University of Pennsylvania for my Bachelors degree. I recently earned my Masters degree from Western Governors University.
2. What did you study?
My Bachelors degree is in secondary English education and my Masters degree is in curriculum and instruction.
3. Why did you choose to be a teacher?
When I was in high school, I was on The Hiller Newspaper staff and by my senior year I was Editor-in-Chief. I loved leading brainstorming sessions for the new issue and helping the staff to find their unique writing voice. I actually started out as a journalism major in college but changed majors because I realized what I loved most about journalism my senior year was the teaching component of my role.
4. How do you like working as a teacher at Trinity?
I am deeply honored to be able to come back to my alma mater to teach. It’s rewarding to know that through hard work and dedication, I was able to return to the district that began my teaching journey.
5. How does your day usually look?
My day usually looks pretty busy. This year I am teaching seven English classes (two senior and five freshmen). It can be challenging at times but what’s rewarding is being able to work with my students each day. Even though I am teaching the same content for two or five periods in a row, each class is uniquely different in a memorable way.
6. How was your time at Trinity as a student?
I absolutely loved my time as a student. It wasn’t until I got to high school that I really enjoyed school. I loved being able to choose the classes I took; one of my all time favorites was journalism. Had I not taken journalism all four years of high school, I wouldn’t have developed the communication skills or confidence that I now use every day as a teacher.
7. What do you like about teaching English?
I like that every time I read a poem, short story or novel, I’m discovering something new that I hadn’t before. The beauty of teaching English is that my students are always bringing a new perspective to our class discussions. They are always reminding me to be open minded and are always teaching me something new.
8. Why did you come back to Trinity to teach?
From the moment I changed my major to education, I knew that I wanted to return to Trinity. Being able to come in every day and give to my students what I once received from my teachers is an honor.
9. Was there a specific teacher that influenced your career path? Who and how?
The teacher that had the most impact on my life was Mrs. O’Lare. I had O’Lare for AP English 12 and for journalism my last three years of high school. In journalism, O’Lare taught me the importance of expressing my opinion and how to communicate with others.
