I was never a huge reader growing up, but I loved being in the media center and around books. Later on, I realized I had a love for being in libraries and learning the organization of them. I wanted to work in a school library to connect students to books and help them find a love of reading.
The best aspect of our school is that we are a community that supports one other in the daily living out of our faith.
Not only do I want my students to learn Spanish and other cultures, but I also want them to feel loved. I want them to have fond memories of Spanish class, so that after they graduate, they will want to continue studying language and become a citizen of the world through travel and language.
My students constantly amaze me by how hard they work and the amount of time they put in to complete an assignment.
Students who understand their learning styles will be successful. What works for one student will not always work for another. I introduce them to several study strategies and help them pick which works best for their individual needs.
I want my students to recognize the infinite goodness that they possess as human persons. We humans are not created bad and sometimes do good—we are created good and sometimes do bad. Those bad mistakes do not define who we are. We are always forgivable, lovable, and precious in the Father’s eyes.
Fides quaerens intellectum! 'Faith seeking understanding' succinctly describes our study of God, who is the source of the true, good, and beautiful. Truth is convincing, goodness is eloquent, and beauty is compelling; I have the joy of presenting them as we find them in Jesus Christ and handed on by the Catholic Church.
I am amazed by human movement. I love watching kids learn to push their physical limits. The high school student is raw in physical capabilities—they can quickly pick up good, safe habits as their bodies grow and change.
I hope to teach my students to put others first. I want them to be aware of the needs of others. Who can they serve today? Who can they love? How do their actions affect others? Learning to be selfless is ongoing, and it is important to begin teaching children this at a young age.
A student is successful when they are engaged with ideas and immersed in the historical and geographical accounts and their relevance to a student’s life and aspirations. This intrinsic drive to learn for its utility for problem solving and decision making are critical markers for student understanding and mastery.
My office is covered in student art. It reminds me of the incredible talent nurtured in each of our students.
My work as a teacher, coach, and mentor is extremely rewarding. Whether it is mastering an academic skill in the classroom, finding success on the playing field, or simply learning a lesson about being a great servant, I find that sharing in the successes of students is certainly what I enjoy most about my work.
I teach Latin because I find great peace and beauty in structures, systems, and patterns.
Intellectual growth happens best when students are allowed to explore God's world through the lenses of the liberal arts, sciences, and Catholic teaching. I love it when students discover the beauty and order of mathematical patterns in math class and art, and grasp the powerful difference between the magic of a fairy tale and God's miracles.
I’m originally from Virginia Beach, so my classroom has a beach theme! I have had many students bring me shells and other beach gifts to add to the room, and it makes me smile to know that my students think about me and our classroom while they are on vacation!
Whether its a sports championship or extraordinary service, I make sure that students get the recognition they deserve for their accomplishments, big and small.
The most important part of teaching is making sure my kids know they’re loved and have my support, even if they make a mistake.
Every day, I come to work with the hope of building better, more meaningful relationships with my students. I want my investment in their lives and their academic success to be blaringly evident. Of all the responsibilities I take on as a teacher, the most important is making those in my classroom feel like others care about them and what they bring to this world.
I am the happiest when I see our parents get involved in activities. To me, this is a reflection on how much they love our school.
Biology, and science in general, is so vast that its hopeless to try to teach it all within a few years. By introducing students to a small sample of multiple disciplines in science, I hope that they will develop a scientific mind with good lab techniques. With this small sample, I hope they leave with a spark of interest in one of those disciplines and possibly pursue it in higher education.
I begin each academic year by shaking hands with my students. It's a symbolic gesture that we're entering into a collaborative relationship, that we're partners in the learning process.
When a student is uncertain about life, school, or their future, I always tell them that God has a plan and it is in his time.
What doesn't amaze me about my students? They are always showing me how smart they really are and that they can persevere through the challenges of life no matter what.
I am happiest when I see a student express openness to new methods for study and observe those methods paying off. I rejoice whenever I see the concrete results of diligence and hard work.
I teach my students about scripture by encouraging them to learn a new verse each week. It’s amazing to see how proud they are to recite their verse on Friday mornings and how eager they are to learn how to locate verses in the bible.
As a life science teacher, I am often asked how I reconcile faith and science and how I teach about both in my class. I tell them, if you want to better understand Shakespeare, you read more of his plays. If you want to better understand Monet, you look more closely at his paintings. Likewise, by studying, observing, and digging deeper in to nature and the Earth, we can better understand its Creator.
The happiest part of being a teacher is knowing that – in some small way – I have inspired another person to be a better reader, a better mathematician, a better writer, a better friend. It is always a good day to make a difference.
In Seton Center, students learn to be better readers, debaters, thinkers, and philosophers. They learn to reflect and overcome failures. They learn to embrace their interests and how to respect others interests and opinions.
It makes me happy when a student suddenly or gradually finds the deeper meanings of the great mysteries of our faith.
I love working with middle school students because every day is different and exciting. You never know what is going to happen next! I have always loved math because whenever you finish a challenging problem, you feel very accomplished!
Life is a map-less journey of ups and downs, unexpected forks in trails, roadblocks, and dead ends that teaches us who we are. Science is a similar journey. I invite my students on this complex journey, and I want them to take the scenic route—the long way with all the zigzags that sometimes lead us astray—because it’s the unexpected zigzags that teach us the most. It’s never the shortcuts that teach us who we are or that give us insight into an energy conservation problem.
The more you read, the better your writing will be. If you are able to write well, you are better at communicating your ideas. But writing starts with reading. Reading is life changing. Reading can save your life. Read, read, read!
Seeing my students with a smile on their faces and engaged in the lesson makes me the happiest. I love when a student is completely immersed in what we are learning about so much so that he or she is asking questions that I may not even know the answer to and have to look up with the class.
Doing the right thing is usually the hardest thing.
My goal as the admissions assistant is to help visitors see the amazing attributes of HSP.
Math is amazing because there are many ways to solve each problem. While solving problems and exploring discourse, students are able to have “Aha!” moments and make connections to many types of mathematics.
Exploring novels, poetry, short stories, and ideas collectively makes learning interactive and enjoyable. Facilitating deeper understandings and thought-provoking conversations creates an active and engaging classroom.
The moments when students click “submit” or receive their first acceptances are really special, and it’s an honor to get to be a part of them.
My classroom's routine starts every class with a prayer in Spanish—Our Father or Padre Nuestro and Hail Mary or Ave María help us begin with faith in our hearts. The students pray out loud in Spanish with devotion, connecting the Spanish culture and language with our faith.
I love this school because I can practice, teach and nurture my faith and am surrounded by a community of colleagues, friends, and families who do the same.
A student is successful when there is progress from beginning to end—when they are able to understand what they’ve been taught, especially if it was a struggle for a while.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” – Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird Learning is a two-way street, occupied by both students and teachers. As a teacher, I try to consider where the kids are coming from and what they’re bringing to the class, and in doing so, I try to meet them in the middle. I try to engage them on their level, encouraging them to explore and empowering them to take risks. When this happens, there is a sense of wonder and appreciation that is visible on a student’s face. And that’s what teaching and learning are all about: Meeting in the middle so everyone benefits.
I teach chemistry, but the most important part is teaching students how to think. Learning how to ask good questions, analyze information, solve problems, and think critically is far more important than learning the chemistry itself.
Developing a strong rapport with my students and earning their trust is critical for me. I want my students to recognize each activity and assignment as meaningful and purposeful in helping them reach their potential.
I believe that, with the right instruction, every student is capable of creating beautiful works of art. I often hear a student say that they will not be taking an art class because they do not know how to draw. I always ask them if they knew how to do calculus before they took the class. Art is a learned skill and anyone with the desire can be successful.
I had many inspirational teachers in my schooling, but my grandfather’s stories of being a spy in World War II and leading our Civilian Air Force Intelligence at the Pentagon definitely led me down the path to become a history teacher.
Every day is a new opportunity to make a difference. These children may be small, but they have big hearts!
We tend to paint the past with generalizations, portraying its players as either good or evil, when in reality, history is much more nuanced because people are full of inconsistencies and contradictions. History is the story of real people—that's what makes it fun.
I want my students to learn intellectual humility. I do not want them to end their studies with a triumphant, “Look at me, I’m brilliant because I can read Greek and Latin!” I want them to be awed by how little they know, but still thankful that they have acquired important tools to slowly advance toward greater wisdom.
I think the best aspect of the lower school is the love the teachers show the students. Since my own children are also a part of the HSP school community, I know that they are in good hands all day. When I see them during the school day they are always happy and that makes me happy!
The best aspect of the Lower School is our teachers and staff. I am grateful for their incredible love and devotion to our students.
The biggest lesson of theater is communication—how characters communicate with other characters, how actors communicate with the audience, and how production members communicate with each other. Actors must think, "Is the thought clearer when conveyed this way, or that way?" Performing requires students to express themselves clearly and listen to others carefully, and these skills are the bedrock of empathy.
Being a part of forming our Holy Spirit graduates is an honor and a privilege and is a role that I take seriously and with much love.
Our shared faith reaches everything we do here, from academics to athletics to art, and reminds us that all that is good, true, and beautiful points us back to the God who is our source and our destiny.
I have watched our students celebrate college graduations, weddings, the birth of children together, and I’ve also watched them grieve together. Their capacity to love and support one another, in good times and in bad, is the most beautiful and lasting gift our students take with them from HSP.
My goal is to provide a positive, supportive learning environment. I want to help all students realize their potential and become successful learners.
It's a joy to watch students from different grade levels working hard as a creative team in a respectful, God-centered environment to produce a work that demonstrates to others the beauty of their God-given abilities and talents.
I am always amazed at the hidden talents of our students—artists, performers, and so much more.
I know a student will be successful inside and outside of my class when they show the ability to be self-sufficient. When they begin to depend on my help less and less, the more confident I am in their ability to deal with problems and issues in their own life.
The joy in the classroom for life and learning is undeniable and contagious.
Hard work beats talent, if talent fails to work hard.
It’s wonderful to see a child I helped learn how to read in Kindergarten reach their full potential and read the Epistle at an All School or Lower School Mass.