I grew up in the Northeast Kingdom, nearby in Irasburg, and I have always planned on spending the majority of my time here. I graduated from St. Michael's College in Colchester with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Music, and Secondary Education in 2008. Afterward, I worked for the college for one year while beginning my pursuit of a Master's Degree in Education. That journey ended in May, 2016 when I graduated, again from St. Michael's, with a Master of Arts in Education. My focus in this program was Art Integration. Currently, I live in Derby with my wife and two furry children (see below).
Art Integration, and cross-curricular integration in general, is essential in education because it helps students see the connections between the many different things they are being asked to learn. My goal is to embed as much Math, Science, Reading, Writing, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Technology into my Social Studies courses as I can in order to break down the barriers that often exist between these subject areas and help students to see the connections that exist within all areas of learning.
I am also an advocate for personalized and project-based learning. Students need to be able to explore individual interests and inquiries as they develop the skills they need to be successful in high school and later in life. By consistently planning, implementing, and reflecting on student-driven projects, students prepare to engage positively with their learning on a daily basis and demonstrate the transferable skills that will benefit them as they continue their educational and life journeys. For more info about personalized learning, please see the "Personalized Learning" and "Genius Hour" pages on this site.
Aside from my full-time role as an educator, I also teach courses at the Community College of Vermont and I am a part-time musician. I perform locally as a solo act, in various small groups, and have recorded a couple of albums of my own songs. My passion for music is much like my passion for education; I enjoy the opportunity to continuously learn and improve my skills. It's a lot of fun! I also enjoy reading, writing poetry/songs, going to live musical performances, trivia, and watching college basketball and professional football. Go Colts!