The AMS II Staff Highlight is used to identify an employee who exemplifies the core values and culture of our school. Twice a month, we will feature a new staff member to give them the opportunity to shine and showcase their passion for education and molding the future leaders of tomorrow!

What do you teach? 
I currently teach 3 sections of Geometry and 1 section of English 11. I also am an assistant basketball coach.

Why do you teach?
I teach because I have a passion of helping students be successful inside of school and out. I wasn't always planning on being a teacher, my original plan was to be a lawyer, but when I truly found myself I knew that the classroom is where I belonged. I will do whatever it takes to help my students reach their personal definition of success and try to make school an inviting and fun experience for them. I also love sharing my experiences with students, both good and bad, in hopes of being a positive role model to them. Every day I walk into work I am truly happy until the moment I walk out, and I could not imagine doing anything else.

What do you love about AMS II?

I love the culture of AMS II, both with the students and the staff. I love working with a group of colleagues who are equally dedicated to student's success as I am. Additionally, I love working with and teaching a dedicated and motivated group of kids.

Three Things You May Not Know About Me: 
1. In high school one of my jobs was being a chicken mascot for a restaurant.
2. I was an Under Armour Baseball Factory All-American invitee when I was in 11th grade.
3. There is a picture of me in an NYC museum.

​Are you new to this profession/teaching? What has your journey been?

I am not new to teaching, but brand new to AMS II. Before here, I taught middle school and high school in Syracuse, and before that I worked in kindergarten classrooms, but high school is definitely my calling.

Get To Know The Teacher:
I am entering my 13th season as a teacher. However, this is only my second year at AMS II. Before I came to AMS II, I taught middle school history most recently at St. HOPE Leadership Academy in Harlem.

Hobbies Outside of School:
I love sports, baseball and basketball are my favorite, and I still find leagues to play in. I work out and exercise regularly, and whenever I am not busy with all that (and of course work) I am usually playing video games.

AMS II Career Highlights:
It is hard to single out just one, because I usually get a new favorite moment every day, whenever students really understand a difficult concept and I see the joy on their face when they accomplish a mini-goal.

Growing Pains:​
One of my personal grows outside of school has been really acclimating myself to a new city. This has not been my first time living on my own, but I did just recently move to NYC and it was a tough adjustment not having a car for the first time, among other things, and I am really starting to feel comfortable. Inside of school a personal grow is learning about the different cultures and customs that our students have, which comes with moving to a new city.

What are your hopes for your students? What drives you?
My hope for each student is that they are successful by their own standards, not anyone else's, as long as they achieve their goals and are happy then I am too. My drive comes from seeing these kids put the work in day in and day out. If students can take away one thing from my class it is that I expect them to not only give 100% effort all the time, but to really enjoy and make the most of their time inside the classroom and actually learn things not just do them.