Teaching Philosophy

I believe that teachers, regardless of the academic level at which they teach, should serve as facilitators of student learning and achievement. They should assist their students in building a foundation for success, not just in class, but in all areas of the students' lives. As an educator, I am not the purveyor of all knowledge and truth. Frequently, I find that I have learned as much about life from my students as I hope that they learn from me.

Learning is a process. It should entail the free exchange of ideas and ideals, with each person contributing to the dialogue. In an English course, whether composition or literature, my goal is to encourage my students to analyze texts, have an opinion, think for themselves, and internalize meanings before they set pen to paper (or, as in many cases, fingers to keyboard).

Effective writers must be effective thinkers. Through class discussion, interaction, and presentation, students are provided with the opportunity to formulate their ideas, have those ideas challenged, strengthen their reasoning, and then express themselves in a meaningful way. When all of these objectives are accomplished, I believe that I have fulfilled my obligation to the students I am charged to educate.

Courses Taught