Home: Easton, CT. Age: 40. Birthplace: Livingston, NJ. Profession: Education. Pronouns: He/Him/His. Alma mater: Touro University (Master’s degree in Teaching Students with Disabilities); University of Hartford (Bachelor’s degree in Education).
Current project: Developing engaging, inclusive curricula for students of all backgrounds. Recent recognition: Featured speaker at educational conferences. Recent professional development: Agile/PMP Certification. Latest accomplishment: Shaping personal finance education for K-12 students. Latest contribution to others: Mentoring aspiring educators and curriculum designers. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Transitioning from direct teaching to education technology and curriculum design. Hobbies: Painting, reading, exploring new teaching methodologies.
Personality profile: Open-minded, analytical, creative thinker. How do you define a perfect friendship? Mutual respect, deep conversations and shared laughter. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Collaboration, trust and shared vision. What is your greatest joy? Seeing students grow and succeed. What is your greatest fear? Stagnation, personally and professionally. What is at the top of your bucket list? Traveling to Japan for an immersive cultural and artistic experience. How do you relieve stress? Long walks, painting, and reading classic literature. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? A mix of adventure and quiet reflection.
What book have you repeatedly read? The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A mix of educational quotes and personal artwork. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? A mentor who taught me the power of lifelong learning. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Learn something new every day. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Stay curious. Innovation follows curiosity. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Online learning platforms, which have changed education forever. What company or organization do you most admire? Khan Academy, for making knowledge accessible to everyone.
What is your big idea?
Blending education and art to create engaging, immersive learning experiences.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Bringing more creative and adaptive learning techniques to mainstream education. What change would you like to see in the world? A greater emphasis on lifelong learning and critical thinking over rote memorization. What message do you want to send out into the world? Never stop learning, never stop creating. What mega-trend most excites you? The integration of artificial intelligence in education.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? The Art of Learning. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Setsuko Hara. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? An artist or a teacher. Turns out, I found a way to be both. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Surrounded by family and friends, discussing life, art, and philosophy. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The day I helped a struggling student finally understand a complex concept. It was a reminder of why I do what I do. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? My early career. I would have embraced change sooner.
Personal mission: To inspire curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Personal motto: Teach. Create. Inspire. Favorite quote: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” (William Butler Yeats). Desired epitaph: A lifelong student who never stopped teaching.
