Our teachers bring their life experience and intellect into the classroom.
At School of the Future, we have dynamic teachers who are committed to making school a meaningful and exciting experience for our students.
Janine Kelly
Art Teacher
“My goal as an art teacher has been to make students who are hesitant in making art (specifically drawing/painting), those who don’t feel they are “good” at art, more comfortable. For those who are comfortable, skilled artists, I try to push them to take more risks in art making.”
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Ben Mook
Eight Grade Math & Team Leader
“I have visited other schools and witnessed a lot of great teaching. But SOF is my home. While other places espouse values like learning culture and community, SOF truly lives them. I have the privilege to teach in an environment where I am pushed to succeed, but supported as I take risks and challenge myself.”
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Diana Sierra
High School Spanish
“To be a teacher means to care, to understand, and to be compassionate to others. It is important to remember that all students are not the same and should be treated as individuals. Also, make sure that you love and are passionate about the subject you teach.”
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Diane Thole
Tenth Grade Algebra II/Pre-Calc teacher
“SOF’s small team structure is like nothing I have ever had at any other school I have worked at before. Likewise, I have never before had the opportunity to teach an entire class in ninth grade and then teach that entire class again in eleventh grade. Having the non-pressure situation of not teaching to a Regents Exam is something that drew me to SOF.”
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Dahlia Roberts
Sixth Grade Math & Science Learning Specialist
“I am an educator because I love learning. The best way I can share that love is to pass on information to others seeking knowledge and infecting them with the need to learn more.”
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Carrie McGinnis
Instructional Coordinator
“I love being a literature teacher because reading opens us to so many possibilities: it can provide us with an escape into new worlds, help us understand our own world a bit better, and enable us to make sense of our experiences and our lives.”
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Cornelia “Cricket” Cooley
Eighth Grade Humanities
“The school is far more diverse in every sense than the other schools I have taught in, so the kids and teachers really can learn from each others’ experiences. It is hard to push critical thinking and teach alternative perspectives in homogeneous environments. SOF is anything but homogeneous!”
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Catherine Thompson
Eleventh and Twelfth Grade History/Politics/Government
“I came to teaching through a deep love of learning and a desire to serve—as I was by my own teachers. I teach because, for me, it’s the most effective and immediate way to change the world. I believe education is, or at least it can be, enabling, empowering, and a place of holistic growth.”
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Felix Shen
College Counselor
“I love being able to be guide students with their transition into adulthood. It is quite rewarding and humbling to see that I could play a small part in their lives and potentially make a positive impact.”
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Jeremy Copeland
Twelfth Grade US History & Government
“I love teaching because it forces me to think critically about everything. It keeps me on my toes. And, while this is as cliche as it gets, teaching is very rewarding. I’ve been doing it for quite awhile, and I still get choked up every year during graduation.”
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Scott Underriner
11th and 12th Grade Physics
“I’m an educator for a lot of reasons, but primarily because I love inspiring those lightbulb moments in students. To see students make connections between material and apply to their own lives is inspiring. Being able to create and witness those moments is incredibly rewarding.”
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Jessica Candlin
Eleventh & Twelfth Grade English
“One thing that stands out to me is the enthusiasm for learning that the staff passes on to their students. Every teacher and administrator at SOF genuinely loves to learn. Our shared passion promotes critical thinking and authentic learning throughout the grades and across subject areas.”
» Read the Full Interview
