Teaching
At the heart of my teaching is a deep belief in the power of stories—how they shape us, connect us, and help us make sense of the world. As a 6th-grade English teacher, I encourage my students to see reading and writing not just as academic exercises, but as ways to discover who they are, understand others, and imagine new possibilities.
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I create spaces where students feel empowered to explore their voices, wrestle with big questions, and engage with literature in meaningful ways. Whether we’re analyzing a novel, crafting our own fantasy worlds, or researching real-world injustices, I want my students to walk away feeling that their ideas matter, their words have power, and their stories are worth telling.
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Here are two projects that reflect the heart of my classroom:
Through the Fantasy Mirror
How can fantasy be a vehicle for understanding our complex world?
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Fantasy isn’t just about dragons and magic—it’s about seeing the world through a different lens. In this project, students read and discuss fantasy stories in literature circles, including The Hobbit, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Elatsoe, and When You Trap a Tiger, exploring how these stories reflect real struggles, hopes, and histories.
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But the magic doesn’t stop there. My students also become fantasy writers themselves, crafting their own worlds and stories. And here’s the twist: they don’t just make up magic—they have to define the rules behind it. Working in collaboration with science, they explore the logic of the impossible, setting laws and scientific parameters for how magic functions in their worlds. It’s a beautiful fusion of creativity and critical thinking, where storytelling meets structure and imagination meets inquiry.
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Through this project, students begin to see fantasy as more than an escape—it’s a way to ask big questions, challenge assumptions, and reimagine the world as it could be.
Changemakers
How do stories across cultures and eras illuminate the human experience? What role do I play in contributing to justice?
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Inspired by John Lewis’s March series, Changemakers invites students to step into the role of researchers, thinkers, and storytellers of change. Together, we explore how history lives on in the present—how movements, activism, and voices from the past still shape the world today.
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Students choose a real-world injustice to investigate, diving into its causes, impacts, and the people working to make a difference. But research alone isn’t enough—this project is about action. Through writing, storytelling, and presentations, students create something meaningful: a final piece that educates, inspires, and sparks conversations.
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One of my favorite parts of this project is watching students find their own voice in the process. They start to see themselves not just as learners, but as people with the power to notice, to speak, to contribute to the world in real ways.
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