EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
I believe that my job as an educator is to provide structure and support, to allow each student to succeed on his or her own terms. I try to accomplish this by creating a learning environment that is safe, comfortable, and intellectually challenging. When students are given the opportunity to excel, they can accomplish great things.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
I graduated with honours and distinction from the University of Toronto’s English programme in 2003, and I hold Master of Arts Degree from the University of Toronto’s Centre for Medieval Studies and a Bachelor of Education Degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), where I specialized as an Intermediate/Senior (Gr. 7-12) English and History teacher.
At George Brown College in Toronto I received on-the-job training in Adult Education. I am a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
A teacher accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers, I have been practicing my craft since I graduated from OISE in 2009. Between 2009 and 2013, I was first an English and History teacher, then head of the English and Humanities department at a small private high school in Toronto.
Simultaneously, from 2011 to 2013, I taught a regular class during the evenings and weekends at George Brown College – St. James Campus. While attending graduate school, I spent two years as English Don at Trinity College, University of Toronto. As Don, I was tasked with teaching Freshman students how to write good essays and how best to think profitably about literature. I ran workshops on close reading and essay composition, and gave instruction and direction to individual students on a tutorial basis.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
During the course of my undergraduate and graduate studies, I spent a lot of my time in the theatre, where I learned a great deal, including how to make an effective and entertaining presentation to a large and diverse group of people. I held leadership positions both in the theatre itself, where I was an assistant manager, and in the college dramatic society, where I was elected president. I directed, produced, acted in, or supervised the production of over 15 plays during my college career.
In high school, I was a member of a regional champion Reach for the Top team. I retain a strong interest in trivia and quiz games.
