Frmr teacher of Physics, Chemistry, Geometry, Philosopy, and Lit.

Clifton M.

I became of high school teacher after graduating from St. John's College--an all-seminar Great Books college with four years of required Mathematics and Laboratory tutorials. I had previously been in college for a Physics degree at Harvey Mudd College, but left before finishing -- St. John's reignited my love of learning.

I took that love of learning to Phoenix, AZ. There was a charter school network of Great-Books focused high schools called Great Hearts, and I joined their Glendale Preparatory Academy as a physics and chemistry teacher. I trained under Zak Kovacs at ASU -- a veteran of AMTA Modeling Instruction, a research-backed, hands-on curriculum and and a pedogical mindset. To this day, I prefer something like a "modeling cycle" when introducing most concepts to young people. I certainly use something like a modeling cycle when returning to old topics, reopening topics, and iterating and building on a students understanding.

This is also where I began my career in tutoring! All teachers at Great Hearts were required to have open tutoring hours several times a week, and forming mentorship-style relationships with students was encouraged. I went on to teach Philosophy, Literature, Great Books seminar, and Geometry. When I eventually left to join an online-private school called The Socratic Experience, I was hungry to develop and teach more experimental HS courses like Empirical Modeling and History and Philosophy of Mathematics and Science. The Socratic Experience also had me work as a mentor of up to 9 HS students a year for at least biweekly meetings -- we met for tutoring, life coaching, or just for helpful check ins! I enjoy listening to young people and hearing them out to see what I can help them with so that they can flourish. Everyone needs help sometime.