At WES Since: 2019
If you could talk to any living person now, who would it be and why?
The person I would pick to speak with would be Monty Don of the BBC show Gardener’s World. I’d love to pick his brain about tips and tricks for growing all my plants, indoors and out.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
The best piece of advice I was ever given was that you can be right or you can have a relationship.
Bio:
A fourth-generation native Washingtonian and a product of local independent schools, I have worked at several independent schools in various roles. When I’m not managing Mr. Vogelman’s calendar and projects, I enjoy gardening, indoors and out, and finding great Indian restaurants.
At WES Since: 2023
What is your teaching philosophy?
As a teacher, I am learning as much as my students are. We may not be learning the same content, but our roles in the classroom and school community are that of learners. To be the best teacher for my students, I must learn who they are, how to engage them, where I can best support them, and so forth. By being aware that I am a member of our learning community, I can be an empathetic and flexible teacher who will talk with their students and not at them.
Why did you choose to work at WES?
I fell in love with WES over my student teaching semester in the spring of 2023. I would wake up each morning excited to be in the classroom and surrounded by a community which I felt I could learn so much from. Everyone was extremely supportive and helpful: anytime I had a question or got lost in the building, I knew I could ask the next person who walked by. If I needed lesson planning advice or someone to bounce ideas off of, I felt comfortable enough to walk into any classroom and get the teacher’s opinion. Leaving on my last day was incredibly difficult but I was determined to eventually find my way back, and I’m ecstatic to officially join the WES faculty!
Bio:
I am a recent graduate of American University, having received my B.A. in Elementary Education in May 2023. I spent the spring of my senior year student teaching at WES in Grade 3, where the students referred to me as Ms. Garry, but having gotten married over the summer, I am returning as Mrs. Garry! I grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with my parents and two sisters. I have a passion for sports, having played and coached throughout my life (my favorites are lacrosse, field hockey, and basketball). Whether I’m accidentally burning myself in the kitchen or covered in hot glue, I love to be creative and try new things. I am honored to start my teaching career at WES!
At WES Since: 2024
What inspired you to become a teacher:
I became a teacher through my love of travel. I moved abroad in my early twenties to teach English in Prague and fell in love with the city and teaching! I had never thought about becoming an educator before but quickly realized how much I enjoyed working with students, planning lessons, and finding interesting resources to bring into the classroom to engage learning. Through graduate school and work experience, I have fine-tuned my pedagogy, but that initial spark of seeing a student connect with an idea is still what drives my love of teaching.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Poco a poco.
When I was trying to learn Spanish as an adult, my Spanish teacher would tell me to take it poco a poco or bit by bit. It was always a helpful reminder to slow down and take a deep breath when I was feeling frustrated or overwhelmed. To this day, I still repeat it in my head when I need a moment to organize my thoughts and think things through.
Bio:
I grew up in New Jersey and my educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University and a Master’s of Art from the Reading Specialist Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. With over twenty years of experience, I have worked in a variety of educational settings. I have lived and taught abroad in international schools working with bilingual language learners. As well, I have taught at several elementary and middle schools in the NYC and DC areas, primarily as a reading specialist. Most recently, I served as a primary school learning specialist at Lowell School in DC. In these positions, I have worked with both faculty and students, with a focus on providing instruction to neurodiverse learners and helping to build the self-confidence and independence of all students. I currently live in NW DC with my two daughters (aged 10 and 14), my husband, and our dog Delilah. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, hiking, and practicing yoga. I also love trying new food and always have a long list of restaurants I want to go to!
At WES Since: 2023
What is your favorite quote?
I have two favorites. The first one is “Other people’s success is not your failure.” The other quote I love is from the musical Company by Stephen Sondheim: “Don’t be afraid it won’t be perfect. The only thing to be afraid of really is that it won’t be.” As a lover of all things theatre, I’m always ready with a relevant show tune lyric or quote from a show.
Why did you become a teacher?
When I was in fourth grade, my teacher allowed each of us to teach the class. We were given a grammar topic to teach and time to plan the lesson. We had to present the information to the class and then help students as they completed workbook pages. The day I taught my lesson about proper adjectives was when I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I was always a bookworm who loved learning new things and memorizing facts. Teaching my peers showed me that the real fun was in figuring out how to pass that knowledge on to others.
Bio:
I’m originally from Arlington, VA. I received my undergraduate degree from Smith College, where I double-majored in Education & Child Study and Cognitive Psychology. I also conducted research in a linguistics lab that studied language development in children. After Smith, I attended Harvard Graduate School of Education for my Ed.M. in Mind, Brain, and Education. At both Smith and Harvard, I studied how the brain works and how neuroscience impacts teaching and learning. In 2018, I began my career teaching Grade 4 in Stafford County, Virginia. I then moved back to Cambridge, Massachusetts where I taught a combined Grade 3/4 class. I began teaching Grade 5 when I joined the WES community in 2023. Outside of the classroom, my interests include theatre (especially Broadway), comedy, and dance. I lead the Drama Club for Grades K-8 at WES, as well as the Middle School Creating Connections group on ability and disability. A fun fact about me is that my partner is a proud WES alum. Come visit my classroom anytime to chat or listen to some show tunes!
At WES Since: 2023
Why did you choose to work at WES?
Hospital nursing in the Covid era has been challenging. I’m looking forward to the change of pace (and more traditional schedule!) as a school nurse. I grew up as a staff kid at a private school in Connecticut and attended boarding school myself for high school. I love this world and am happy to be part of it again.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Some days you’re the windshield, some days you’re the bug.
Bio:
I have lived in the DMV area since 2005, when I moved to DC for college. I attended George Washington University as an undergraduate and then again for nursing school. My professional background is in hospital nursing, primarily in women’s health. I am looking forward to this next chapter as a school nurse. The WES community has been warm and welcoming, and I’m energized by the school environment. My husband, Chris, and I now live in Silver Spring with our three young children.
At WES Since: 2023
What is your teaching philosophy?
I am motivated every day to provide students with exciting and successful access to performing music. This leads to opportunities for students to realize the value of listening, and the value in applying one’s attention to extended ideas. These are some of a music teacher’s greatest responsibilities.
If you could talk to anyone, who would it be?
If I could meet anyone from any time, it would be my wife’s parents, who she lost at a young age.
Bio:
As my wife and I married and started a family, she encouraged me to start college to pursue my passion. After slowly achieving a music degree and teaching credentials at Southern Oregon University, my first teaching interview led to becoming part of a wonderful Middle and High School in Sisters, Oregon. When our children headed to college in the northeast, my wife and I were fortunate to be invited to the faculty at Woodstock Middle and High School, in Vermont. Now that our adult children are scattered up and down the East Coast, we have established a centrally located home here in DC, where I am very excited to be a part of what is happening at Washington Episcopal School.
