May172013
Reading tonight at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre— beautiful space.

Reading tonight at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre— beautiful space.
May92013
Honored to be featured on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s “Impatient Optimist” website. I’m so thankful that my art and my teaching supplement each other the way that they do. Neither could wholly exist without the other, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Honored to be featured on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s “Impatient Optimist” website. I’m so thankful that my art and my teaching supplement each other the way that they do. Neither could wholly exist without the other, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 
7PM
Got the opportunity to meet and speak with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan along with other teachers from around the DMV regarding the intersection of policy and practice. It was a great discussion and was inspiring to be around so many phenomenal educators.

Got the opportunity to meet and speak with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan along with other teachers from around the DMV regarding the intersection of policy and practice. It was a great discussion and was inspiring to be around so many phenomenal educators.
May72013
Student letters to Congress advocating for their positions on gun control legislation. #listentothekids

Student letters to Congress advocating for their positions on gun control legislation. #listentothekids

listentothekids 

May62013
These kids changed people’s lives this weekend. It was the highlight of my year watching them showcase their stories. 4th best slam team in the DMV, and 1st place when it comes to being awesome. They are my heroes.

These kids changed people’s lives this weekend. It was the highlight of my year watching them showcase their stories. 4th best slam team in the DMV, and 1st place when it comes to being awesome. They are my heroes.
May52013
Parkdale High School is about to perform on the Louder Than A Bomb final stage. I’m about to cry.

Parkdale High School is about to perform on the Louder Than A Bomb final stage. I’m about to cry.
May42013
Parkdale into the semifinals!

Parkdale into the semifinals!
May22013
Come support my students this weekend as we join 19 other high schools across the DMV competing in the “Louder Than A Bomb” poetry festival. The kids have put in so much work and I couldn’t be more proud. They’re ready to represent Parkdale and change the way people think about the world. George Washington University, 801 22nd St, NW. Our first bout is at 2pm on Saturday. #ltab #parkdale #proudcoach #ifeellikeasoccerdad

Come support my students this weekend as we join 19 other high schools across the DMV competing in the “Louder Than A Bomb” poetry festival. The kids have put in so much work and I couldn’t be more proud. They’re ready to represent Parkdale and change the way people think about the world. George Washington University, 801 22nd St, NW. Our first bout is at 2pm on Saturday. #ltab #parkdale #proudcoach #ifeellikeasoccerdad

ifeellikeasoccerdad parkdale ltab proudcoach 

April192013
Shout out to the homie Steph for the support, and congrats on setting the NBA single season 3-point record.

Shout out to the homie Steph for the support, and congrats on setting the NBA single season 3-point record.
April122013
Much love to my Parkdale fam. Fantastic place to work and I’m lucky to learn from so many amazing educators.

Much love to my Parkdale fam. Fantastic place to work and I’m lucky to learn from so many amazing educators.
April82013

Named 2013 Christine D. Sarbanes Teacher of the Year

I’m honored and humbled to have been selected the 2013 Christine D. Sarbanes Teacher of the Year by the Maryland Humanities Council.

March282013

As a teacher, everyday I see how the battles we fight in public health, education, housing, and poverty are so deeply connected. One of the biggest issues we face is food access. 26.5 million Americans live in food deserts, and those disproportionately exists in communities of color—the community in which I teach in. In DC, Wards 7 and 8, which have the District’s highest poverty rates, also have the city’s highest obesity rates. What my kids do or don’t eat affects how they are able to perform when they come to my class. Where grocery stores do or don’t decide to build affects the health of my students and their families. What places accept WIC and food stamps literally plays a role in determining the life expectancies of the people in those neighborhoods. As Ron Finley put it, in our communities, “drive thrus are killing more people than drive bys.” I wanted to write something that spoke to how pervasive this issue is, yet how little attention it receives. Check it out, pass it along, let’s let people know that this is a real problem.
March262013

Finally got some footage from my performance at the Gates Conference. Besides the nerves and the awkward jokes I think the video came out pretty well. 
March92013
Took my students on a trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum yesterday after reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel. Hopeful that the opportunity to meet a survivor and gain a more in-depth sense of what happened makes them stronger advocates against injustice in their community and around the world.

Took my students on a trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum yesterday after reading “Night” by Elie Wiesel. Hopeful that the opportunity to meet a survivor and gain a more in-depth sense of what happened makes them stronger advocates against injustice in their community and around the world.
February282013
Currently attending the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s conference on ‘Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers’ in La Jolla, CA. So many inspiring, innovative, and passionate teachers from all over the country. I was given the opportunity to perform today and it might have been the most fun I’ve had on stage. My two passions coming together in a way they haven’t before. Teacher poems + Room full of hundreds of educators = Best day ever.

Currently attending the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s conference on ‘Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers’ in La Jolla, CA. So many inspiring, innovative, and passionate teachers from all over the country. I was given the opportunity to perform today and it might have been the most fun I’ve had on stage. My two passions coming together in a way they haven’t before. Teacher poems + Room full of hundreds of educators = Best day ever.
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