While I have retired after 32 years teaching social studies, I still have the same passion for helping students learn as I did while a history major at Brandeis University. While taking a seminar in Chinese thought I read from Confucius: "He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger." From that 1988 spring day, I have been and will always be a teacher.
Unfortunately, I had to wait several years after graduating with a BA with Honors in History because my Mass. certification in history did not transfer to my home in Penn. (Go Birds!!) After graduating with an MA in Political Science from Villanova University, I had the coursework for a Social Studies Cert, in PA. (Go Phillies!!) My first 2 school years were at Akiba Hebrew Academy, followed by 30 years in Central Bucks: at Tamanend Middle and then Central Bucks High School West where I spent the next 26 years primarily teaching US History, US Government, Modern World History, 23 years of AP Comparative Government and Politics and 8 of my last 9 years teaching AP US History.
Aside from being married since 1996 and raising my 3 wonderful college-educated children, I am most proud of helping my students be learners. While no test is a perfect reflection of one's learning nor the teaching of that learning, AP test results offer at least some insight. Over the 23 years I taught AP Comp Gov, my students averaged 4.03 and always scored significantly ABOVE the global average. My APUSH students, averaged above 3.65 and always well above the global average. I believe that my students succeeded because of the combination of program I created, the resources I gave the students, and my pedagogy.
I believe that every student can reach their potential through hard work and the collaboration of teacher, student and parent/guardian. Every student is different and learns in different ways, and thus my courses were designed to use a wide variety of techniques and assessment tools to help students reach their potential.