TEACHING, THE MIRROR


Everything I do – all the work with writing, music, and art – eventually comes back to inform my teaching. And teaching informs the rest of my work as well. The two go hand in hand. One without the other, at this point, doesn’t seem sensible. Teaching, as is often the case in many vocations, is a sort of mirror. I’ve learned a tremendous amount about myself and others through public education and beyond, and I welcome more opportunities to work with diverse communities of learners of all ages and agendas. I especially look forward to working with institutions and individuals interested in redefining student-teacher relationships, engaging with experimentation in language, and exploring innovative pedagogy in democratic environments. Teaching, after all, may be the greatest teacher.

 


Alan Semerdjian
(631) 988-3264
Alan@alanarts.com

EXPERIENCE


HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER, 9/99-Present

HERRICKS HIGH SCHOOL New Hyde Park, NY
Teach Language Arts, Regents Assisted, AP-Lit, Creative Writing, Responding to Literature, and Writing Methods classes. Facilitate/Advise Poetry Club and co-advise the GSA. Organize ninth-grade Poetry Celebration and several student showcases, trips, publications, and speaker series.


WRITING WORKSHOP TEACHER/FACILITATOR, 8/98 - Present

Huntington Youth Bureau/ Poets and Writers Huntington, NY
Work with teens from the community on developing writing skills through creative writing with a focus on publication and public speaking.


CREATIVE WRITING INSTRUCTOR, 9/03 - 6/04

Harriet Eisman Community School Long Beach, NY
Conduct creative writing classes/workshops for students in a democratic environment.

EVENT COORDINATOR/CARETAKER/TOUR GUIDE, 5/96 – 8/01

Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site Huntington Station, NY
Planned and hosted literary events. Co-founded and coordinated The Body Electric- a monthly experimental art collective for the community. Gave tours for visiting public and groups from various organizations.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER, 8/97 - 9/99

The Brooklyn School For Global Studies Brooklyn, NY
Taught Writing Workshop, Humanities, Mathematics, and Special Education. Students in workshop created anthologies and put on readings of their work annually. Created a middle school writing workshop curriculum correlated to the New York State New Performance Standards in Language Arts. Served as a mentor for prospective teachers involved in internships through universities. Served on various committees dealing with student life. Set up after school homework help and intramural basketball programs.

EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT/WORKSHOP FACILITATOR, ongoing

The Armenian Diocese Cathedral New York, NY
Work with teachers and students alike in the writing process and its implications in the secondary education classroom.

And hundreds of public readings, lectures, workshops over the past ten years.


EDUCATION


- Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Poetry) Goddard College 7/03
- Provisional Certification in Secondary Ed. (7-12) Queens College 6/97
- Bachelor of Arts in English Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 12/95


RELATED EXPERIENCE


- New York City Teaching License (JHS) 8/97 and Special Ed. Certification 12/98
- Facing History and Ourselves @ Bard College, NY summer workshop 8/98
- District 15 Writing Workshop for teachers Brooklyn, NY 10/98 - 12/98
- Project Smart Training for technology in the classroom Brooklyn, NY 1/98-2/98
- Awarded two Fellowships to the Chenango Valley Writers' Conference Hamilton, NY 8/97 and 8/99
- Assistant to the Director Hofstra University Writers' Conference Hempstead, NY
7/96, 7/97
- Master Class of Poetry at the Walt Whitman Birthplace 6/96, 6/99
- Contributed writing to various regional and international publications: Ararat, Lyric Review, Newsday, Colere, Segue, can we have our ball back, Whalelane, Traverse, Rattapallax, Poetry Midwest, and CHAIN among many others. Monthly column for longislandmusicscene.com.
- Active Member of LILAC (Long Island Language Arts Council), NYSEC (New York State English Council), NCTE (National Council for Teachers of English), ASCAP, The Academy of American Poets, and on the Project Excel Advisory Board.
- Conducted workshops and presentations for LILAC and NYSEC annual conferences and NACA National Association of Campus Activities).
- Conducted interactive/interdisciplinary workshops for Teachers and Writers Collaborative in New York City (with poet Will Alexander) and The Huntington Art League (with painter/teacher Rich Ganes).