About Me
I have always sought out intercultural experiences, including travel to countries that enables first hand cultural and language exchanges that deepen my understanding of each country’s culture, economic system, politics, and history. I have also always been humbled by my knowledge and understanding of my culture, based on comparing and contrasting others' viewpoints of American culture and history.
My first cultural exchange experience was during high school when my family hosted a Russian exchange student, Irina, for one full year. I also befriended Wendy, a German exchange student. We shared our personal experiences in past history classes and discovered we had learned about the same historical events from very different perspectives and viewpoints. The relationships I formed with these two exchange students afforded me the privilege of observing their personal growth from being immersed in a foreign culture and fueled my desire to study abroad during university. I spent a full year in Italy, learned the Italian language and saw how cultural understanding could deepen when you can communicate in someone's language. Speaking the language allowed me to assimilate and experience Italian culture not only through a tourist’s lens. I finally got to have my experience that I saw Irina and Wendy have years before. 
Since my time abroad in Italy I have continued to seek out these types of experiences. I traveled extensively throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Asia and Central America. I stayed with host families, participated in volunteer projects and studied the local language as a way to travel. I still yearned to live full time in another country again and a teaching job at the American School of Bombay, in Mumbai, India, allowed my personal and professional passions to converge. I spent three years working as a classroom teacher, and now as a math consultant.
I continued to dream of travelling in more remote areas when I had more time and feel fortunate to have found a partner who shared the same dream. Over the past seventeen months we have seized the opportunity to make this a reality traveling in villages in India, Myanmar, Mongolia, Argentina and Chile. Traveling by bicycle in Patagonia allowed me access to small places and encounters with people I may have not otherwise met. I value deeply each connection, no matter how brief the encounter. 
Professionally, my current role as a math consultant allows me to coach teachers on instructional strategies and mathematical content as well as share my passion for inquiry-based mathematics learning. Although I am extremely passionate about math education and coaching, I also have a strong interest in teaching struggling readers, facilitating writer's workshop, differentiating curriculum and instruction for all learners, supporting students development of metacognitive skills, integrating technology as a tool for learning, and helping students become lifelong inquirers. Each year my classroom becomes a community where perspective taking, celebration of diversity, and an appreciation for one another’s strengths and challenges are fostered.
Since June 2011, my priorities have included exploring countries on three continents, traveling via foot, bike, train, bus, camel, boat, and car. Now I am looking forward to a change in focus, sharing my new found perspectives within a community of students and colleagues. Joining the cultural richness of an international school is the position I seek for using and building my professional skills.
Personal InterestsTraveling, hiking, kayaking, reading, dancing, biking, yoga, impressionist art exhibits, volunteering and learning other languages
Language Proficiency
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2009-2011
2004-2008
2005
2000 |
Ashray Orphanage, Mumbai, India
Collaboratively developed English Language Program to teach children aged 5-15 English and Build Positive Social Skills New York Cares, New York, USA
Participated in projects at homeless shelters, and in parks for environmental clean-ups Volunteers for Peace Vidreres, Spain
Participated in an intercultural exchange and archeological dig with 28 people from 9 different countries International Civil Service, Savignone, Italy
Rehabilitated a building and surrounding land used for a Boy Scout camp and served as a translator for volunteers with no knowledge of Italian |
