Spotlight on U (Teachers)

What do you teach and why did you become a teacher?

I teach economics and personal finance and AP World History: Modern. I decided I wanted to become a teacher when I was in elementary school and I fell in love with studying history in middle school. When I got to high school, my world history teacher was fantastic, and I decided I wanted to teach the same thing.

What is your favorite subject or lesson to teach, and what makes it so special?

In my economics and personal finance class, my favorite lesson is about buying a house. It is eye-opening for students when they discover the difference between sticker price and actual cost and what their potential future incomes can actually afford. Learning how to handle major purchases in life is something I wish I could have learned when I was their age, and I am so glad the students are being introduced to the vocabulary and skills before they need to use them in their lives beyond high school. In my AP World History class, I love teaching the Early Modern Era, since students really start to practice comparison across world regions. My students work in groups to research a ruler from a land-based or sea-based empire. Each group then brings their knowledge to a roundtable discussion where they get to discuss with each other and discover the similarities and differences between rulers from different parts of the world. We then take it to the next level by developing arguments about how successful these empires were at establishing and maintaining power. Students practice finding and using good sources, comparison and argumentation all within a short amount of time, and I am always left impressed with the level of work they produce.

What do you hope every student remembers after leaving your classroom?

More than any specific historical content, I hope students retain the skills they developed in the learning process. My economics and personal finance course is all about life skills that I hope students carry with them beyond my class. AP World History focuses on skills like writing, making connections, time management, analysis and problem-solving. These functional skills are what students need to be successful in life beyond graduation.

What is one moment in your classroom that reminded you why you love teaching?

One moment that reminded me why I love teaching is when some students who had graduated came back to visit and told me about how they were already using the skills they learned in my economics and personal finance class as students in college. One even said she still uses the budget template I created for our budgeting project! Hearing that your former students are still referencing the information and skills they learned in your class is very special and reminds me why I love my job so much.

What do you do for fun in your free time (outside of teaching)?

When I'm not at work, I LOVE reading. It's how I spend most of my free time. I also like going to yoga class and am learning how to crochet.

If you could instantly master any hobby or skill, what would you choose?

If I could instantly master a skill, it would be to speak every language. I would love to be able to travel places and already know the language fluently. 

What is your go-to comfort food after a long day?

Chicken soup with ice cream for dessert. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world during summer break, where would you go and why?

I would go to Germany. I minored in German in college and would love to go back and practice the language before I forget it all.