Where did you teach previously? Did you have any other job before you were a teacher?
I used to teach science at Livingston High School. Before I decided I wanted to go into teaching, I thought I wanted to be a doctor so I went to medical school in Philadelphia and worked as a Medical Assistant for a year.
What is your overall impression of Lakeland so far? How is Lakeland different compared to other districts where you’ve worked?
So far Lakeland has been very welcoming! The staff here have all been very nice and helpful! So far the students have all been very nice! I really like how engaged the students here are with school activities like athletics and clubs.
What’s one thing students can expect in your classroom that might surprise them?
In my classroom I tell my students that I don’t expect perfection; I expect them to make mistakes. Mistakes means that someone is trying something and identifying where they have gaps in their learning. It is normal for people to make mistakes. I make them all the time, so it is a regular part of life! What is important is that we learn from our mistakes, identify what happened, and move forward.
What do you hope to bring to Lakeland’s teaching staff and the school in general?
I hope to bring a lot of my ideas for hands on activities and labs to the science department to help keep instruction engaging. 70+ minutes is a long time to sit in one class, but it gives a lot of opportunity for teachers to have activities that get students up and moving around the room.
How would you describe the culture here at Lakeland at first glance?
My initial impressions were that Lakeland is a pretty close-knit community since it is a small school everyone seems to know everyone which is pretty cool!
What makes you most excited about being a part of the LRHS community?
The fact that this school seems to have a lot of energy and excitement surrounding extracurricular activities.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in when you were in high school? Are there any sports/clubs you can see yourself getting involved in at LRHS?
I played tennis for four years in high school and four years in college. Sadly, my high school did not have many clubs that we could join. It was mostly athletics. I could definitely see myself getting involved with the tennis programs here or some of the clubs related to the medical field!
