"My name is Gregg. In 2003 I graduated with a degree in English Education from Western Carolina University. The following year I accepted a teaching position on a remote island in Alaska, located just thirty-four miles from Siberia. In this position I was responsible for the instruction of reading for students in grades eighth through twelfth. Once I moved back from St. Lawrence Island I accepted a position at Ridgeland High School, where I currently am teaching tenth grade English and Composition. Both of the schools that I have taught at have been low performing and in both cases I have been able to raise the scores of students in the content of English. While English is easily my strongest subject I feel that I am also qualified to teach History. Initially, in college I was indeed a History major. I vacillated between the two majors and ultimately chose English because it is easy to bring History into the English classroom, conversely it is more trying to bring English into the History classroom. I have a passion for education and believe that the ultimate goal of a teacher is to inspire free thinkers; students who will formulate independent thoughts of their own and as a result desire to never stop learning. I also have a strong background in German. The teacher preparation program at my alma mater is an intensive program. As an English major you are required to take four full years of a foreign language in order to help you understand your native language more effectively. I value my role as an educator and a prospective tutor and look forward to helping students achieve their goals." less...