A native of Newburgh, NY, I came to CCMS after having taught many years in my hometown. At the elementary level, I have taught band, orchestra, choral, and general music.  For most of my time in Newburgh, I taught middle school band, jazz ensemble, and general music classes. In 2017, I wasn't looking for a new job, but a friend told me about an opening in Cornwall. After interviewing, I became the new CCMS Band Director, and have never looked back.

Although there's no other career I'd rather have, I didn't initially set out to become a music teacher. I embrace the fact that I didn't take the direct route, and I feel that the sum total of my experiences helps me to reach my students in a special way: I fully appreciate we are all individuals and navigate life the best way we can, given our  own interests, gifts, and challenges. In other words, we all have our own 'road map.'

If asked my philosophy of teaching: 'Students don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.' At the end of each day, I hope I've taught my students some really good musical things. But, at the end of my career...I hope I've taught them all a whole lot more than just that.

I'm looking forward to a great year with all my new and returning students!