I am an English teacher at Skykomish High School. I have been here for two years and I've loved every minute of it. I graduated from Western Washington University in 2015 and completed my teacher certification shortly thereafter. I currently live in the same town that I teach in with my partner and our son.

 

I've enjoyed reading since I was a very small child, and my love of literature continues to expand as the years go by. I grew up in a home that cherished books, so it was easy to get hooked. I particularly enjoy dystopia, scifi, and fantasy, but I also read a lot of historical fiction and horror. I'm working on expanding my tastes, so I'm always open to suggestions for new things to read. Among my favorite books of all time are Harry Potter, Throne of Glass, The Hobbit, The Catcher in the Rye, Jurassic Park, and The Pillars of the Earth. I am a big believer that there is something for everybody to read, whether it be a comic book, newspaper, fantasy novel, or nonfiction text. Interests vary, but so do texts. One of my goals as a teacher is to be able to find something wonderful for each one of my students to connect to.

 

Besides reading, I also do quite a bit of writing, which is something that I have also been incredibly involved in since I was very young. I published my first novel, Before a Million Universes, in 2015. I have several others in the works and hope to have them ready for publication soon.

 

I believe audio and visual are both very important when it comes to the world of English Language Arts. I often come up with a soundtrack to go along with whatever I'm reading. Diving into a book with an appropriate soundtrack makes the fictional world come alive and allows for a fuller experience. I think that it is interesting to allow students to come up with their own soundtracks when reading as well, because it allows for them to make their own connections to the text through lyrical and instrumental thought. This can lead to a deepened understanding and more personal relationship with the text.

 

Literature is important to teach because it allows for students to make so many different connections. They're able to read about different life experiences and put them into perspective with their own insights, leading to things like empathy and a more thorough understanding of their world. Every book that they pick up is full of fresh realities and new life experiences. 

 

Reading is a safe haven for many students. They're full of friends who never disappear, because their experiences can be relived again and again. Books are a promise. They never die. As J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series says, "whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." And it will.