Let
me tell you a little about myself. After graduating from Wolcott High School in 1976, I earned my
Bachelor of Science degree in English from Central Connecticut State University.
I began teaching at Wolcott High School
in 1983, and in 1994, I earned my Master of Science degree in Secondary Education and Educational Leadership also from Central Connecticut State University. In high school, English
was always my favorite subject, so deciding to major in English was a natural choice for me.
During the past
two years, I have had the pleasure of working for the Connecticut State Department of Education as the English Language
Arts Teacher-in-Residence. My position with the state afforded me many opportunities to grow professionally as I coached beginning
English teachers around the state. I return to the classroom this year with a wealth of experience and a renewed enthusiasm
for teaching.
I
am married to Ross Primack; we have two daughters, Stephanie and Shelley and a Japanese Chin/King Charles Cavalier mix named
Sushi.
Why
I Teach
I knew since I was very young that I wanted to be a teacher. It was something that
I have always had an affinity and a passion for. Teaching is a rewarding and demanding profession—one that has the power
to shape the future. Everyday I find excitement and fulfillment in my classroom. I enjoy the challenge of leading
young people to think more widely and more deeply than they have before. I enjoy introducing them to new ideas and helping
them try to understand and evaluate those ideas. I enjoy helping them realize that reading literature is really about coming
to an understanding about humanity. I enjoy being creative and finding new ways to make the material
come alive for my students. I particularly enjoy the give and take in the classroom. I teach for the epiphany, for
the moment of illumination, for the instant when a student says "I understand" - not only in words but in actions. I can see
it in their eyes. I teach English because to love literature is to love ideas and people. That's why I teach. Why would I
want to do anything else?
