I was the youngest of four boys raised in a single-parent household in New York City, who became the first in my family to graduate from college. I graduated from the College of Staten Island (CUNY), and I would later go on to complete two graduate degrees at the Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College, Vermont. I feel that my journey reflects a story of the American Dream, something I believe and strive to help students achieve. My interest in being a fellow reflects a belief in the power of education and a desire to improve the quality of public education.

Currently, I work as a middle school English teacher in the Boston Public Schools and work part-time as an English instructor at MassBay Community College. I have served as instructor at Lesley University, teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses. Over my twenty-two years of professional experience, I have taught English at every grade level from 5th to 12th in a variety of settings, from urban and suburban to rural.

During my years of teaching, I have received numerous teacher research awards from private and public organizations such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Council Teachers of English, and the Spencer Foundation. These studies have lead to numerous presentations and workshops and several professional publications. In addition, I was nominated for the Massachusetts State Teacher of the Year, and this year was awarded a second Sontag Award for Urban Teaching.

My leadership experience includes my having served as a literacy coach in two alternative schools with the Boston Public Schools before taking on the responsibility as instructional coach for all the Boston Pilot Schools. Prior to these leadership experiences, I had been a founding teacher and Dean of Humanities at a charter school, a Vice-chair of a school committee, and interim principal in a rural Catholic school.

I have particular expertise in leadership, instruction and curriculum; educational technology; data analysis and assessment. My policy interests include improving low-performing schools; Common Core standards; teacher quality; charter schools and merit pay; college and career readiness.