Q. Where did you go to college?
A. I started two years at a community college, CCDC in Catonsville, and then I finished up at University of Maryland. And I have a degree in communications
Q. How long have you been teaching?
A. I’ve been working in Howard County, this will be my twelfth year, so all eleven years prior to this year have been in middle school.
Q. And from your previous schools, how has Atholton been different so far?
A. Middle school there’s a lot of immaturity, so there’s definitely a more mature way about these students here at Atholton. I actually like it because they seem to be more motivated to do well in school, which is great.
Q. Going along with that, what would you say the best and worst thing about Atholton is?
A. Best thing is definitely getting to interact with more adult-like students. The worst thing is I have to get up early. I was able to sleep in a little bit longer but now I gotta get up earlier.
Q. As far as teacher techniques, how do you interact with your students to keep it more engaging?
A. Well the big thing that I think is important is that you gotta know the student and develop that relationship. And it’s always easier to interact with students when you know them as a person cause then you can kind of gauge what style of teaching to use and how it’ll work best with that particular person.
Q. What inspired you to teach and pursue teaching professionally?
A. Working with kids was always fun. I really developed a liking for special needs students and so I did special ed for a long time, and not so much an academic standpoint but also from a social emotional standpoint as well and how the way children think and stuff like that.
Q. Now we’re getting into the more goofy and fun question: If you weren’t a teacher what would you want to be?
A. I would think I’d be probably a police officer. Or something law enforcement wise I’d guess. When I was younger I liked playing the ‘good cop vs bad cop’, running around the house trying to arrest my brothers and stuff like that.
Q. Do you have a favorite sports team?
A. You’ll have to look at my bulletin board. Terps, skins, and O’s, that’s how Riggin rolls. I was prepared for that question.
Q. Do you have a go to Dunkin’ or Starbucks order?
A. I’m not a coffee person but I love donuts, and boston cremes have got to be my favorite donut!
Q. Do you have a favorite music artist?
A. I definitely like country music, any type of country music is good with me.
Q. If you could pick any TV show to binge what would it be? A. I would have to say Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. I love that show, I could probably watch that show all day.