Hi, I’m Chris! I graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a double major in English and Philosophy and a minor in Classics and received my MFA in Screenwriting from Brooklyn College. I’ve been working in education for a decade. I model my style on the teachers I most admired. I teach students to approach a text with an open mind and to start first by focusing on story and what elements resonate with them. Although I believe in the importance of a detailed lesson plan going...
Hi, I’m Chris! I graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a double major in English and Philosophy and a minor in Classics and received my MFA in Screenwriting from Brooklyn College. I’ve been working in education for a decade. I model my style on the teachers I most admired. I teach students to approach a text with an open mind and to start first by focusing on story and what elements resonate with them. Although I believe in the importance of a detailed lesson plan going into the start of a class, I’ve learned that it’s crucial to be flexible. I love it when a lesson takes an unexpected turn that evolves into a deeper, more nuanced discussion. I believe in helping the students understand and utilize the many different lenses through which a text can be seen.
In addition to analytical reading, I enjoy teaching students about the craft of writing. I work with students on all types of writing, including analytical essays, creative writing, and personal statements. When dealing with analytical writing, I encourage the use of close reading to develop a thesis. I then have students reread a passage multiple times to examine how it supports their thesis and relates to the whole work. With creative writing, I work on all elements of fiction—plot, character, dialogue—before combining them into a whole. I use exercises to help build skills and generate ideas. I stress the importance of approaching creative works with the student’s own voice. Finally, I have worked with many students on personal statements, primarily as part of college applications.
I worked at Regis High School (my alma mater) in New York, where I taught English, ran an after school program for struggling students, and served as the assistant coach for the speech and debate team. I also taught Latin at the Mirman School in Los Angeles. Throughout the pandemic, I worked in private education, developing curricula in all subjects for elementary school students and tutoring middle and high school students. I helped them with their norm
