“History Is Happening” is a phrase that I emphasize to my students and strongly support through my teaching methods.  History is relevant; what has happened in the past shapes us today. Thirty years of teaching in Malden has helped me evolve into a committed and experienced educator. In my role as Social Studies Teacher Leader, I model best practices, share a repertoire of teaching strategies, implement learning protocols, and facilitate professional development.

I find my enthusiasm growing each year as I participate in meaningful and enriching professional development such as “The Voices Rising Project”. The historian seminars, in-depth research, and lesson design promoting the use of technology will help improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Through these lessons, my students will actively engage in the investigative process, understand the relevance of history, and make connections between the past and present.

I am passionate about teacher and learning.  I am actively engaged in promoting learning through my professional contributions such as designing and implementing the AP European History course, training interns as the site coordinator for the Tufts University Urban Teacher Training Program, mentoring new teachers for Malden Public Schools, helping shape and communicate district reforms as a member of the district steering committee, and designing and implementing plans as a member of the Malden High School leadership team. I believe that my contributions help to foster high achievement for all students.

I am currently a first year social studies teacher at Malden High School. I earned my Bachelor’s in Hispanic Studies, with a double minor in Latin American and Urban Studies from Wheaton College, and my Master’s in Education with a concentration in Political Science and Philosophy from Tufts University. Teaching is a profession that I love because I am constantly learning new things, whether it be a new way to teach certain material or even how to better engage my students. Each day is part of the learning process for both my students and me.

I chose to teach history because, as a student, history was a subject that really intrigued me. The reason that History or “His story” can be so wonderfully interesting is because it can be told from many different perspectives. Hearing or reading different perspectives from those who were there to live through an event, allows a person to try to piece the story together like a puzzle, in the end realizing the big picture. Everyday I learn something new about history, allowing this “big picture” to further come together. Learning about the histories of other countries, and that of the United States allows people to better understand why it is certain groups of people hold certain customs and beliefs. History is so very important to me because I’ve learned through my experiences, that it is easier to make sense of both the past and present when you know and understand the past.

The school year 2006-2007 is my second working in the Malden Public Schools as a 9th grade teacher in the Social Sciences Department.  I have a B.A. in History from Bates College, and an M.A.T. from Tufts University.  While attending Tufts, I worked as an intern at Malden High School during the 2004-2005 school year.

My interest in history stems from a life-long interest in the American War for Independence.  I was fortunate enough to be able to study this topic as an undergraduate student.  For my senior thesis I examined the powder house raids of British regular troops in the Greater Boston area, which led to a greater interest in the political atmosphere of New England during the 1760’s and 1770’s. This project has continued to foster my fascination with Revolutionary America.

I was born in Portsmouth, England but grew up in 5 different countries -- England, Scotland, Wales, Spain and Portugal. I attended the Royal Hospital School, a 300-year-old boarding school in East Anglia. The history department at the Royal Hospital was fantastic and it was there that my interest in history developed. I then went to the University of Wales to read International Politics and International History. My favorite periods of history are the French Revolution, the First World War and Modern Russia. Since moving to the United States in 2005, I completed my graduate degree at Tufts University whilst interning at Malden High School teaching history. Since coming to the United States my interest and knowledge in U.S. history has grown where I have found the Revolutionary War time period truly fascinating, especially having grown up with the 'other' perspective. Over time I hope to see more of the United States, especially areas of historical significance.

I am a 9th grade social studies teacher at Malden High School.  This is my second year working at the school. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University.  In addition to criminal justice, my work at Northeastern focused heavily on history and political science. While I had always wanted to become a high school history teacher, I also have a love of the law, politics and government. I attended Northeastern with the intention of continuing on to law school; however, upon completion of my undergraduate studies, I realized that I should do what I had always dreamed of, teach. I enrolled in the Masters of Education program at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. I earned a M.Ed. in secondary education with a focus in political science. 

At this point, I teach only the 9th grade, but it is my goal to eventually teach several subjects to a variety of age groups. Teaching courses on government and politics is of particular interest to me. For me, one of the great aspects about teaching is being able to share my passion for the topics I teach with my students, and hopefully pass on some of that passion to them. I have enjoyed my time teaching at Malden High School and look forward to the years ahead.