This is one of the things I don't like to do. Talk about myself. I mean, what exactly should I share? What would make me "more real" to you? What are the highlights of my life that are worth sharing?
First of all, I guess I would like to say that I love being a teacher. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. I attended Lutheran schools for pretty much the entirety of my school life. All of the teachers I had influenced me, not only intellectually, but also spiritually and personally. I am fortunate to remain in the town where I grew up, and I work at the high school I attended. Several of my former teachers are now my colleagues. Additionally I still am able to see many of my former elementary teachers during professional conferences and so on.
Perhaps the most influential teacher in my life is my mother. She taught at Lutheran High School of Indianapolis when I was a student there. Then, when I returned to Lutheran in 1999, she was still teaching there, so I was able to be her colleague. Not only did I see what being a teacher outside of the classroom was through her, but I was also to learn from her in the classroom and as a professional. Although she is retired now, I still lean on her for advice and more in my personal and professional life.
I can't tell you exactly what I love the most about teaching. I think being around students and helping them to experience things for the first time is very rewarding. Seeing freshmen develop into seniors is extremely satisfying. I have also experienced the benefit of developing adult relationships with former students. I feel proud to have been able to be a part of their lives, even if it was only for a year or less.
I am passionate about education. Our future rests on our students and I believe that we need to serve them well. Too often those who make educational policy don't really understand the realities of schools. Too often those who criticize teachers don't understand how much time and effort teachers put into their work. They see it as a 9-month a year job, working from 8-3 pm. They don't see the work teachers bring home, the piles of papers to grade, the hours of planning, and the money put into personal professional development to keep licensure current. Teachers are blamed for the problems in schools, but the whole community is responsible for the success of their students.
Besides teaching, I do have quite a few interests. I love to read, travel, and shop. I have taken several students on tours to Europe. Most recently I took 5 students to London over Christmas break; it was a joy to share my favorite European city with them (all of them were going for the first time.) I have traveled to Germany, Ireland, Scotland, France, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland in addition to England. If I could choose one or two European cities to live in, I'd choose London or Berlin. Both are vibrant cities, international in "flavor" and simply lovely. I never thought of myself as much of a beach lover, but this summer my family and I went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and I am hooked. I hope to go to another beach location soon!
If I had to choose only one author's books to read, I wouldn't be able to do it. I admit to being an Anglophile, and Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett are two British authors I admire the most. Both write in what you'd call the "fantasy" genre, but their works are more than that. Gaiman's American Gods is probably one of my favorite books of all time. I refuse to choose a favorite Pratchett book, although his Discworld subseries about Tiffany Aching (The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith, and I Shall Wear Midnight) is my favorite. I must confess, though, that Night Watch and Hogfather are two I would read again and again as well. What other authors do I like? Shakespeare, Jodi Picoult, Bill Bryson, JK Rowling, Jane Austen, and Philip Pullman are among my favorites.
I'm sure there's more that I could share. I may just update this profile every so often when I think of new information I want to add.
