I am very proud and to have been recognized for my hard work in the field of education.
Lawrence Rotary Club Teacher of the Year: Rising Star Finalist – 2011
I was a finalist for this award which recognizes teachers who are in the beginning stages of their career. I was nominated and deemed a finalist with less than a year of teaching experience under my belt. I was proud and humbled to know that I had made such an impact as a young teacher.
Member of Inaugural Teacher Leadership Cabinet – 2013
I was selected by Lawrence Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Riley as a special adviser. This elite group of 100 teachers was the first ever Teacher Leadership Cabinet drafted by the superintendent. Teachers in the cabinet served as advisers and informants to the superintendent and disseminated important district information to other teachers.
Sontag Prize in Urban Education – 2014
I was extremely proud to earn this award which allowed me to attend an unforgettable professional development experience at Harvard University. Award winners taught a class for intensive instruction during February vacation called Acceleration Academy. This teaching experience was unforgettable; we bonded and learned together while studying Shakespeare.
Exemplary Teacher Panel with United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Perhaps the greatest honor of my life was being selected as one of a dozen teachers to represent the Lawrence Public School teachers in a panel discussion with United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Please click here to read about this momentous occasion in the history of Lawrence, MA.
Sontag Prize in Urban Education – 2015
I was asked by the superintendent to speak on behalf of the Acceleration Academy to potential donors. I spoke about my experience in 2014 in hopes of gaining funding from outside donors. I was humbled and proud to once again win the award and teach Acceleration Academy in February, 2015.
I chose to teach an intensive one week course on Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night for both of my Sontag Prize courses. I am extremely fond of teaching Shakespeare’s plays and reading them for pleasure as well.
Sontag Prize in Urban Education – 2016
Again, I taught a unit on the play Twelfth Night to a group of Lawrence students.
New Profit, a philanthropy organization that funds the Acceleration Academies, featured my class in its promotional videos.
Sontag Prize in Urban Education – 2017
I taught a one week course for English Language Learners in preparation for their MCAS examinations. I was very proud to help these students prepare for and pass this state exam.
Sontag Prize in Urban Education – 2019
After a year off to spend time with my newborn daughter, I revised my Twelfth Night unit and delivered it to a new generation of students.
Sontag Prize in Urban Education – 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Acceleration Academy was canceled in 2020. However, in 2021, I taught a course on financial literacy via Zoom and Google Classroom.
Sontag Prize in Urban Education – 2022
For the first time, I did a novel study during Acceleration Academy 2022. Back in person, we studied The Kite Runner by UNHCR advocate and renowed author Khaled Hosseini.
Standards Institute – 2022
I was very humbled to receive the honor of an invitation to UnboundEd‘s Standards Institute in Orlando, FL. My favorite educational acronym became GLEAM after learning from some very talented educators during the one week course.
Harvard Graduate School of Education Data Wise Leadership Institute – 2022
I was again very humbled to receive the honor of an invitation to Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Data Wise Leadership Institute. It was a privilege to learn from HGSE students and faculty during this one week course.
