Where I've Been

I was born in Brooklyn, NY, but raised in Bethpage, NY, which is located in Nassau County, Long Island. I have lived in the New York area my entire life, with brief stints in Manhattan, Queens, Ithaca, and Massapequa Park, NY. I lived in Queens for seven years upon graduating from college in 1992. I lived in Ithaca during my years at Cornell University, which included a semester in which I lived, worked, and studied in Manhattan. The most interesting times in my life is when I've had the time to travel. I have visited ten countries on three continents and I hope to have more time to travel in the future. I currently live in Wantagh, NY, which is located on the south shore of Nassau County, Long Island.

My Life as an Educator

I try to be an interesting teacher that uses a variety of techniques and materials. I have been teaching since September of 1992, and I greatly enjoy being a teacher of eighth grade Social Studies. An example of a strategy I like to employ is the use of role playing. During the year, my students have role played the Lincoln-Douglas debates, the Scopes Trial, and the debate in the Senate over the Versailles Treaty. These activities are fun for the students, and for me, and they always spark lively classroom discussion.

When I'm Not Working...

When I am not teaching I enjoy going to the gym, playing racquetball, reading, listening to music, and spending time with my family. I don't watch much television, other than sporting events, news programs, and movies. My favorite types of books are non-fiction, usually historical or biographical. However, I do enjoy reading the occasional mystery or action novel. My favorite outdoor activities include hiking and bicycling and I enjoy going to the beach with my family. The only organization which I am a member of is the National Council for the Social Studies.

Web Sites I Like

• I visit Yahoo often during the day in order to check up on the latest news.
• Since I only subscribe to the New York Times on weekends, I visit their website every day during my lunch period and print out interesting articles to read, oftentimes from the OP-ED page.
• Being a big New York Islanders fan, and hockey fan in general, I am a frequent visitor to the their official website the one for the NHL.
• Another site I used to visit daily is my brother Eric's. He had a blog that he only recently stopped updating and I enjoyed reading his takes on politics, society, or a cute family anecdote involving my nephew or niece.
• Here's a no brainer. Google is by far the best place to find something on the web, and I am a very frequent visitor.
• I also spend quite a bit of time running my website and the website for the rock band Frogg Cafe.