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June 6, 2018 Uncategorized

Learning to blog.

Thank you for visiting my blog and reading what I have written. Let me share a bit about me so that you have a sense of my background, training and at least one reason for writing. I grew up in Alexandria, VA and graduated with a BA in Political Science from Washington College in Chestertown, MD in 1989. In 1992, I earned a JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law and practiced domestic and international transactional law and business immigration law for 12 years. From 1992 to 1996, I worked on matters related to the former Soviet Republic of Belarus, living there for eight months and meeting my wife. In 2005, I switched careers to achieve a life goal and became a teacher. I started my teaching career at Hayfield Secondary School teaching all levels of American history, from AP to special-ed team-taught, and currently teach AP US Government, AP US History and philosophy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA.

I am writing this blog for the same reason that I teach, I am deeply curious about how we as people realize our best selves. I believe that the American focus on freedom and opportunity has created an environment for human growth and success that is rich and supple, but complex and fragile. I love teaching and have witnessed my students succeed each year since I started. I know that their success is a product of their effort, but I want to share what I and my colleagues have been doing to support our students by cultivating in them habits of mind to become confident, independent thinkers.