TC: What brought you to NDB?

GF: I went to Mercy, so I am used to the all-girls school environment, and I loved what it was able to do for me. And I think Notre Dame is such a great school. When I was looking for my first teaching job and I saw that there was one open at Notre Dame, I was like, ‘Please, please yes!’

TC: What do you want your students to know about you right away?

GF: I’m very open…I’m very approachable. I want them to know that this classroom space isn’t just mine, it’s ours. So I want all of my classes to be like a collaboration between me and my students, so that they feel like this is their learning environment, too. Whatever you need, come talk to me. You have any suggestions? Come talk to me.

TC: Do you have one class in particular that you’re most excited for?

GF: World history is my love forever. That’s my favorite class to teach. But, this is my first year teaching AP Government, so I’m especially excited to take on this new challenge!

TC: You said you wanted to connect with your students more and have more of a collaborative relationship in the classroom. How does that speak to your philosophy or your personal teaching style?

GF: I’m not just here to make sure you remember all the dates, like the date that World War II started, all of that. I want you to understand why our world is the way it is today, and what your place in that is. My approach to teaching is really less about memorizing content and more about finding your understanding and personal interpretation. I want to develop you as a whole person, rather than somebody who can spit off facts.