Pedagogy/Teaching Philosophy:

All learners have an equal right to a high quality education regardless of socio-economic standing, previous knowledge, or any other demographic or identifier. We as a country have fallen short of meeting that need for many of our children. We send them to higher education, or out into the work world, ill equipped to handle the tasks they will face. Our country has traditionally based its education system on the acquisition and retention of knowledge. This has always been flawed but with today's technological advances it is absolutely unnecessary. Our students can retrieve information on any subject matter instantaneously. It is time to shift the paradigm. When I started at Wooster School in Danbury, CT, they were way ahead of the curve. They recognized that regurgitation of information is not an education. They emphasized one thing at their freshman orientation that has stuck with me all of these years. They said, "We are not going to be teaching you information. We are going to teach you to think." This pedagogy followed me through both high school and college. I can't help but wonder, why is that approach to learning only available to students that can access the best schools in the country? Why can't we make an educational system that is centered around 21st century skills, including an inquiry based model that is more student centered and encourages a love of exploration, examination and analysis. That should be our launch pad. The next priority is differentiation. After decades of trial and error, some countries like Finland, have figured out what students need to sore academically. Unfortunately, the U.S. still continues to fall behind in this area as well. Students need learning strategies and curriculum that meet their individual needs. I want to be a part of the future of education. I want to be proud of the way that we educate children and prepare them for life. This is a lifelong goal that I am deeply committed to.