Faculty Focus: March 2020

TM: I have a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Spanish with a minor in secondary education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I also have a M.S. in Biology from Clemson University. 

TM: Teaching at Fenwick was my first job out of college. But throughout my college career I was a barista, chemistry teaching assistant and a coordinator for an after-school program.

TM: I am currently reading The President Is Missing by James Patterson. I do not do a whole lot of reading for enjoyment, but when I do, it is almost always a book by James Patterson. 

TM: I am a total political junkie so I spend a lot of time outside of the classroom following all of the political articles and polls that come out on a daily basis. I also enjoy playing volleyball when I can find the time and spending time with my dog, Sawyer. 

TM: As a student [at Benet Academy in Lisle], I played volleyball and was involved in student council, National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Recycling Club and my school’s peer leading program.

TM: At Fenwick, I coach the JV boys’ volleyball team and the freshman girls’ volleyball team. I also run the Medical Club, the Ecology of the Rainforest program and trip to Costa Rica, and am one of the adult leaders for the Shield program.

TM: The quality that most stands out to me in a Fenwick student is ambition. The students at Fenwick are all so driven to succeed not only in the classroom but also in all areas of their lives. 

TM: From as early on as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. In fact, many of my grade school teachers told my parents during conferences that it was clear I wanted to be in charge of a classroom. Ultimately, I think that I chose to become a teacher because I found helping students understand complicated topics through engaging and creative lessons to be a truly rewarding and enjoyable experience. 

TM: I think one of my personal strengths as a teacher is that I am not afraid to try new things in the classroom. A lot of teachers can get stuck doing the same lessons year after year because they are comfortable with them and know that they work. I am not one of those teachers. I am constantly looking for new labs to try that I believe could help students better learn certain topics and skills and that take advantage of the technology we have available to us. It can be intimidating as a teacher to try something new, but I think my ability to get past that intimidation and try different labs and activities helps me to continue to grow as a teacher. 

TM: My favorite class to teach is freshmen biology (college prep, honors or AP). We get to cover such a wide variety of topics in biology and use our lab periods to complete a lot of fun and engaging labs and activities. 

TM: The greatest success I have had in teaching was when a student that I had my first year at Fenwick emailed me to let me know that he had decided to become a high school science teacher after taking my anatomy class. It was a moment of validation for me as a teacher that my teaching style had inspired one of my students to pursue a career in the same field as me. 

TM: I think the greatest challenge that students face today is figuring out how to properly use technology as a resource for learning. Technology, for many students, can end up being a distraction and a hindrance to their learning. As teachers, I feel it is our job to embrace the technology we have available to us and guide students to use it in ways that will positively impact their learning process.