Intentional Teaching and Learning

Before retiring, I happily taught for 32 years, 31 in the same middle school. I primarily taught 8th grade Language Arts and History, as well as Creative Writing, Digital Media Literacy, ELD Support, and Reading Intervention electives to all grade levels in my middle school. My students included ELD learners, RSP, Title 1, and GATE students. In addition, I was a literacy coach for six years, and I was honored to be selected Teacher of the Year for my middle school and to receive a WHO (We Honor Ours) Award from the California Teachers Association for my 25 years of training teachers on issues concerning LGBTQ+ students and families and for my advocacy for LGBTQ+ students. I was also nominated for the San Francisco Bay Area Holocaust Educator Award. As a teacher-leader, I worked extensively on curriculum development for my school district. In my spare time as a retiree, I run after-school remote Creative Writing classes for middle schoolers, tutor middle schoolers in reading, writing, and organizational skills, create curriculum, swim almost every day, garden, write poetry, and spend time with my wife and cats. Together, we have two grown sons.