About Me |  |
Here's everything you wanted to know and more...
Background Information:
Elementary School
Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary (Kindergarten)
Greene Township Elementary (1st Grade)
Glenwood Elementary (1st Grade)
Emerson Elementary (2nd-3rd Grades)
Wattsburg Central Elementary (3rd-5th Grades)
Middle School
Wattsburg Middle School (6th-8th Grades)
High School
Seneca High School (9th-12th Grades)
Why I Became a Teacher
I started out my college career majoring in Veterinary Medicine, but I soon found out that I could not get through the math courses. I then switched over to Sports Medicine, but there were certain aspects of that major that made me queasy. I finally changed my major to General Studies, but realized I had a number of credits in English, so I finally decided on English as a major. When I graduated with my degree in English with a focus in British Literature and needed to find a "real job", it was difficult trying to sell myself. I could either spend my days editing other people's work, could write columns for local/regional papers and magazines, or could be a technical writer. This is not to say, however, that a degree in English is not useful. I learned some of the best critical thinking and analytical skills ever, and I was able to use these skills in many of the jobs I held. However, for me, I came to the conclusion that there wasn't much of a calling for someone with a degree in British Literature. So, I went back to school to become an elementary teacher, but figured outthat little kids and Mr. Ludwig are not a good match. I ended up finishing my teaching license in secondary education, and found out that middle school students -- especially 8th graders -- are the best kids around!
Educational Background:
AA Liberal Arts, Penn State University
BA English (British Literature), Penn State University
Teacher Certification - English, Edinboro University
MA English, Gannon University (27 credits)
MA Instructional Technology, Ashford University
MAT Curriculum & Instruction, The University of Saint Mary
Ed.D Instructional Leadership, Northcentral University
Courses Taught:
7th Grade Academic Language Arts
7th Grade Advanced Language Arts
8th Grade Advanced English
PSSA Prep
Teaching Interests:
Literary Analysis
The Writing Process
Grammar
Poetry
Research Interests:
British Romantic Poetry, especially Blake and Wordsworth
Poetry
Educational Motivation
Areas of Interest:
British Literature, especially the works of the British Romantics
Restoration Period Literature
Poetry of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson
Creative Nonfiction
Favorites:
Novel - The Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird
Poem - Blake's "The Little Black Boy" and Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey"
Movie - City of Angels, 300, Shawshank Redemption, Quadrophenia, and Dead Poets Society
Musical - West Side Story and Sweeney Todd
Band - The Who, Queen, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie
Song - Behind Blue Eyes & Love Reign O'er Me
Author - David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs
"Good Kid" Nomination:
Isaac Mattson - Harbor Creek Jr. High Student
Golden Apple Award:
February 2011 Recepient & 2011 Teacher of the Year Finalist
Classy 100 Teacher of the Week:
October 2011 Recipient
