WHY TEACHING? In the early 1990's, I became dissatisfied with my life. I was a productive worker for my local government (Arlington County), but I wanted something with more purpose and meaning in my life. I had served many years ago as a teacher intern (meaning I did the work but I didn't get paid) at Moorestown Friends, a Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) K-12 school in New Jersey. I had often thought about trying teaching, but instead spent most of my work career in data processing (programming and systems analysis). I had occasionally taught comparative religion at churches, and did some music teaching, tutoring and coaching.

As a result of a conversation at the 25th reunion of my original class at Haverford, I decided to become a teacher. I left my job and got a Masters of Arts in Teaching at Johns Hopkins, doing my student teaching in Montgomery County, Maryland. Beginning in December of 1995, I taught in Prince George's County (MD) Public Schools, first at Kettering Middle School (thanks for the job, Dr. White-Hood), and from the Fall of 1998 until June, 2001, at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. During the 2001-2002 academic year I relocated to my home district of Arlington, Virginia, where I taught at Williamsburg Middle School. I am returning to Eelanor Roosevelt beginning in the Fall of 2002.

I believe that unless the United States can maintain vibrant and viable public schools, we run a real risk that our experiment in democracy will fail. Like Jefferson, I believe that democracy cannot function successfully without an informed and participatory citizenry. As a teacher, I believe that all students can show mastery of every subject at some level (thank you Jerome Bruner for this idea), that students have different kinds of minds/intelligence (thanks, Howard Gardner), and should be expected to succeed. I'm still learning what it means to be a teacher, as I am still learning what it means to be a human being.

My wife remarks that, unlike when I wasn't teaching, I get depressed on weekends and excited as Sunday comes to an end. I look forward to going to school. I delight in learning from my students (I cannot TEACH them, together we learn how THEY can succeed in LEARNING). I believe that every student I encounter can succeed, and if I can participate in that process, I am truly blessed.

So, thank you to those who allowed me to be in the classroom: my teachers at Johns Hopkins, especially Drs. Diane Jacobs, Linda Poole and Toni Ungaretti; my principals, Drs. Marian White-Hood ( who is incredibly dedicated to her students at Kettering Middle School) and Gerald Boarman (who made Eleanor Roosevelt one of America's truly great high schools). Thanks also to Margaret McCourt-Dirner who s accepted me into her wonderful community at Williasmburg Middle School. Thanks to those helped me when I first began in the classroom: fellow teachers Mike Rinis, Suzanne Harrigan, Melissa Luroe and Mark DeBaun at Kettering Middle School. At Eleanor Roosevelt I was especially grateful for the guidance and counsel of Sharon Walter, the former Curriculum Coordinator, Anne Cherry, my department chair, and Monroe Brett, who like me came to teaching after an extended career in another field. At Williamsburg Middle all of the teachers have been wonderful in welcoming me into their community. And I thank Anne Cherry and Sylvester Conyers (the new principal) for allowing me to return to Eleanor Roosevelt in 2002.

Most of all, I thank my students for allowing me to share in their lives. So many of them have touched me, impressed me, enlightened me, taught me, inspired me. They tell those of us who teach that we never know when we have an impact (positively or negatively) on student's life. it is equally true that students never know when they will have equally profound impact on our lives as teachers and a fellow human beings. I try to thank them when it happens. And I'm grateful for the ongoing contact I have had with some students after they have left my classroom. Also, those student whom I have had the honor of coaching or working with in choir, yearbook, soccer, or other ways outside the classroom had equally taught me, and I am grateful. I cannot list you all, but here are a few thanks to represent the hundreds of you:

Mark, Erron, Rebecca, Antwuan , Jacqui, Chanel, Lezley, Adam, Becky, Monica, Laura, Andy, Kate, Nicole, Conor, Liz, Sarah, Nick, Jonathan, Chris, Ricardo, Ashley, Dusty, Lauren, Michael, Huy, Dennis, Renee, Samba, Palak, Emily, Terrence, Jacob, Tarjani, Jonathan, Adam, ...

...and I realize that I can't name everyone, but some more names... Pete, Terry, Derrick, Dereck, Susie, Jerroed, Sam, Sieaun, Ashley, Ronique, Rachel, Travis, Shamika, Cori, Harold, Folashade, Tiara, Manzur, Jose, Brittany, April, Marianne, Abony, Heather, Sarah, Chelsea...

and if you don't see your name, it's not because I didn't learn from you .... Mary, Marie, Maria, Nancy, Natalie, Heather, Harriet, Larry, Nikita, Antonio, Anthony, Marcus, Greg, Stephanie, Erin, Sheena, Shelley, Rickie, Delonte, Nick, Erin, Joanna, Jeanette, Sruti, Sydney....

because then this page would be covered with about 1,300 names, and then even if your name were there, would you find it?

.... Danielle, Dawn, Ed, Erica, Fernando,Giselle, Akim, Vincent, Roberto, Andrea, Afrin, Claire, Lorena, Bailey, Monica, ...

thank you all!!!!!!!!!