From High School Online Collaborative Writing

Jessica Hernandez-Speer

My Classes/Study Groups/Workshops:

• Technology Thursdays

Articles I'm working on:

• Inwood Hill Park

Contents 1 My Motto 2 Who am I? Where am I from? 3 People I enjoy working with 4 Interests 5 Heroes 6 Books 7 My Life with the NYC Department of Education 8 My Future 9 Questions

[edit] My Motto

Because you're mine, I walk the line. --Johnny Cash

[edit] Who am I? Where am I from?

I was born to and raised in southeastern Manhattan as it was crossing its Rubicon from the Lower East Side to the East Village. Now I'm from the opposite interior corner, Inwood, also known as Upstate Manhattan.

[edit] People I enjoy working with

I like to work with people who are...

...extravagantly capable, and also humble enough to be perpetual learners...

...emotionally responsible and honest...that is, human enough to lose it or give up every once in a while, and strong enough to live with and own the consequences of their actions...

...holistic, humanistic thinkers...people who consider the team important, even if they are not always team players...

...both funny ha-ha and funny peculiar...

[edit] Interests

Reading, traveling, people-watching, walking/hiking, my ubertall beagle, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, music mix-making, cooking, independent films, "The Simpsons", markers and pens, teaching high school English through slapstick, Vodou/Santeria and learning to knit.

[edit] Heroes

List five people you think of as your heroes. They can be famous or not. Explain why each is a hero to you.

[edit] Books

Barbara Kingsolver: The Poisonwood Bible

Zadie Smith: White Teeth

Wallace Stegner: Angle of Repose

Toni Morrison: Beloved

Paul Auster: Timbuktu

Margaret Atwood: Alias Grace

Alice Walker: The Color Purple

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley

Adrian Nicole Leblanc: Random Family

Sherman Alexie: Indian Killer

Ernesto Quinonez: Chango's Fire

Pete Hamill: Forever

[edit] My Life with the NYC Department of Education

I've been in the classroom since 1997. After a year in Adult and Continuing Education, I've taught English to Speakers of Other Languages and English Language Arts in five different new small high schools.

[edit] My Future

By June 2007, I hope to have seen 50 seniors through the college application and acceptance process and graduation. This will be the first time I will have seen a group through from beginning to end.

[edit] Questions

List 3 - 5 questions you have about yourself, then list 3 - 5 questions you have about the world.