MS ELA Teacher / Retired Air Force Pilot / Tennis Coach

Aaron B.

I am 46 years old, and I have been teaching in some form almost all of my adult life. I have a computer science degree from 2001 before entering the Air Force. I was a fighter pilot and instructor pilot with 18 years military teaching experience to adults, primarily in aviation and military administration. I taught to whole classrooms of 20+ students all the way down to one-on-one instruction.

After retirement, I felt a calling to public education, seeing it as both rewarding and needed. After finishing my master's degree in the science of teaching from Le Moyne College, and getting certified in New York for 1-6 General and Special Education, I just finished my first year teaching ELA to 5th and 6th graders. My classroom sizes varied from 8 for intervention services to 20 for full classroom instruction. I teach a full curriculum to include reading, writing, speaking, library, and digital literacy skills. I work hard at incorporating play, creativity, healthy competition, authentic projects, and discovery in my lessons. I finished the school year by having my 6th graders perform the stage adaptation of "A Wrinkle in Time" with very positive results and engagement. I have discovered that many kids, special needs or not, are not arriving at school with the language or study skills they need to be successful, so I feel like offering tutoring services are a way to reach more students and improve learning outcomes.

Finally, if this service connects me to anyone seeking to improve their tennis skills, I am also a tennis coach for a local high school. I have 35 years of playing experience, won the state double title my senior year in New Mexico, and taught at a tennis camp during college. While I am not a certified pro, my love of the game and teaching experience are well suited to a more affordable tennis lesson alternative.