Lecturers at the Jefferson Educational Society

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• 1986-2000 Teacher at Mercyhurst Preparatory School
• 2004-2009 Chair of the English Department
• 2004-2009 Teacher of International Baccalaureate Humanities
• 2002-2004 Teacher of Honors American Literature and Honors Humanities
• 2000-2002 Teacher of Honors British Literature and Honors Humanities
• 1986-1999 Teacher of World Literature, American Literature 
• 1986-2000 Teacher of all levels of Literature: British Literature, Honors Humanities, Creative Writing
• 1999-2009 Teacher of Holocaust Studies for grades 9-12
• 2004-2009 Teacher of SAT Essay prep at Gannon University
• 1983-1985 Director of Religious Education Program at Holy Rosary School

SUMMARY OF SKILLS

High level of excellence in teaching higher level courses to gifted students; Familiarity in promoting critical thinking skills, excellent writing skills, college research skills and creative writing skills; Experience in judging speech and debate tournaments on semi-national levels; Knowledgeable in computer skills: Power Point, Word Perfect, Photo Shop; Proficient in English and Beginning Hebrew; Knowledge in layout, editing, and publication of material; High level of experience and knowledge in teaching Holocaust Studies

EDUCATION

Graduated Summa cum Laude from Mercyhurst College in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Secondary Education and Religious Studies

Will Graduate Summa cum Laude from Siegal College of Judaic Studies with Masters Degree in Jewish Thought and Civilization in 2010 (2 courses remaining) Grade Point Average: 4.00

Academic Achievements:

Nominated TEACHER OF THE YEAR/2003; Nominated for the Elgin Heinz Award for Teaching of Eastern Study; Named Mover of the Week in Erie, Pennsylvania; Recipient of numerous scholarships from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania and Siegal College of Judaic Studies for Masters work; Presented with a Righteous Gentile recognition for years teaching Holocaust Studies; Presenter of workshop at Yad Vashem; Presenter of workshop at Columbia University; Presenter of workshop at Edinboro University; Diocesan recognition for 25 years of service in the Erie Diocese, and World traveler: England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, Italy, Greece, Austria, China, Japan, Turkey, and Israel. Also, Editor and advisor of award winning literary magazines; Editor and advisor of creative writing booklets: MPeSsence and Holocaust stories of local Erie survivors; Teacher of International Baccalaureate students receiving the highest allotted scores on their IB exams (7)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

• Department Chair and Teacher of all subjects in the English Department including International Baccalaureate Studies at Mercyhurst Preparatory School 1986-2008
• Teacher of SAT Essay Testing at Gannon University—2005-2008
• Workshop Presenter of Literary Magazine techniques at Columbia University
• Workshop presenter of Creating a community booklet of Holocaust Stories for World Teachers Conference at Yad Vashem/July of 2003
• Presenting workshops at Edinboro University on the teaching of Holocaust Studies to High school students
• Presenting programs at the local synagogues on the teaching of the Holocaust
• Judge at local, state, and national Forensic League: speech and debate; dramatic interpretation; original, etc. 

PUBLICATIONS

Award winning literary magazine for 18 years/Chrysalis; Holocaust booklet placed in the archives of Yad Vashem: Sacred Stories: The Shoah Project: Stories of Holocaust Survivors of Erie, Pennsylvania; Stories of faculty at Mercyhurst Preparatory
School: MPeSsence.

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES

“How to Create an Award Winning Literary Magazine” Columbia University: New York City, March of 2001;
“How a City can Respond to the Jewish Community in Their Presence” Yad Vashem Teacher Conference: Jerusalem, Israel, July of 2004;
“How to Teach Holocaust Studies to Students in a Private Catholic School” Edinboro University: Edinboro, Pennsylvania, March 2004;
“Why and How I teach Holocaust Studies” Temple Brith Sholom: Erie, Pennsylvania, April 2006

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

NETC/National Educational Travel Company; NCTE/National Council of the Teaching of English; Yad Vashem; Holocaust Memorial; Sisters of Mercy Associate; Asian Studies; ADL