Bard, A Place to Think - Master of Arts in Teaching

Hometown:Lawrenceville, NJ
Previous Education: Yale University, B.A.
Work Experience Prior to Bard:
History teacher, Director of Studies, College Counselor
Currently Teaching:
History, Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ

Why did you want to become a teacher?
I enjoy reading, learning and communicating ideas, and the teaching schedule worked out well with raising my children.

Why did you choose Bard?
It has just the right combination of history and education classes. The course seemed applicable and intellectually interesting.

Was there a particular professor or course that you especially enjoyed? Why?
I really found all the courses worthwhile, but if I could pick a few out they would be Michael Sadoff - his culture and identity in the classroom was thought provoking, personally meaningful and offered valuable insights to consider in any classroom. Julia Emig who discussed literacy in the classroom- for her passion and knowledge. Myra Young Armstead for her vast knowledge and passion for teaching, and Wendy Urban-Mead because she presented the course material in a varied and interesting way.

In what ways did Bard’s MAT make you into the teacher you are today?
The combination of first rate education and history professors, I do not think is offered at many schools that offer MAT programs. Students from this program gain solid and practical teaching credentials but also are exposed to an enlightened way of thinking about education and students.

How do you put what you learned at Bard into practice in your classroom?
This is hard to quantify, but I know that as I have continued teaching, I have a solid base of research, colleagues and professors that share my ideas about best practices and education. Many of my ideas were not only confirmed, but also expanded and challenged. It was a great program for a veteran teacher, and I think that says volumes about the quality of the program.