Michael Sugar Email & Phone Number

Oregon City, Or, Us

Columbia, Sc

Prince George'S County, Maryland

I teach over 100 seventh graders how to improve their communication and critical thinking skills: We analyze literature like Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and Langston Hughes' "Thank You, M'am." We read poems by Maya Angelou and then create our own. We analyze claims in nonfiction works by Jackie Robinson and the editors of the New York Times. By studying these works and writing analytical essays about them, students develop critical communication and thinking skills. These skills make students more able to advocate for themselves and direct their futures. As a class, we set goals of growing two years of reading growth in just one year. We also set goals of tripling scores on essays across the year. Students write three, 5 paragraph essays per quarter in my class, and I give each student individual feedback which they must analyze and then set goals for themselves. This year, from just September to November, students have already improved their essay scores an average of 75%. Teaching timeline: In January 2014, Teach For America selected me to teach for two years in the D.C. Region. In preparation, I taught 5 weeks of summer school in Philadelphia at Teach For America's Summer Institute. During Institute, I was hired by Prince George's County's Ernest Just Middle School to teach in the English department. Even though I only have a two-year commitment to teach at Ernest Just (2014-2016), I plan to stay at the school for a 3rd year (the 2016-2017 academic year). At Just, I taught 6th grade English for 2014-2015, and 7th grade english for 2015-2016.

Eugene, Oregon

I was an actor, director, stage manager, and fund raiser for Eugene's Free Shakespeare in the Park from 2009-2013. Over this time, I raised approximately $2000 in donations for this non-profit company, directed one play (JULIUS CAESAR), had two lead roles (Claudio in MUCH ADO; Posthumus in CYMBELINE), and stage managed once (HENRY VIII). In particular, I used my undergraduate thesis production of Neil Simon's THE DINNER PARTY as a fundraiser for Free Shakespeare in the Park. This fundraiser helped Free Shakespeare in the Park purchase a much-needed sound board.

Eugene, Oregon

After serving as treasurer for two years, I became the president of the Clark Honors College Student Association (CHCSA), a student government organization which organizes social, service and academic events to enhance the college and local community. As president, I oversaw unprecedented growth in the CHCSA: I oversaw a $25,000 budget, led a staff of 15 student leaders, and helped organize approximately 100 events across the year with a gross attendance of over 3,000. Prior years, while widely considered successful, had half as many student leaders and organized only one third as many events. To accomplish these tasks, I developed new communication, data, and leadership systems; I also made myself as accessible as possible to the community.

I collected and analyzed data to improve the Clark Honors College's curriculum, facilities, and alumni. The other goal of the project was to assess how our alumni fare after graduation. To begin, I designed interview questions for recent alumni (classes 2005-2010) and then personally attempted contact with every member of the alumni in that range. Over time, I conducted 20-30 minute interview with approximately 100 of these alumni and presented their feedback, positive and constructive criticism, to the college's Dean and alumni council. The feedback of the alumni helped identify challenges with the college's student spaces, alumni perception of the college's tuition, and developed critical awareness of how the thesis project helps alumni professionally and academically after graduation. During this time, I also doubled as a publications assistant for the Clark Honors College. I would acquire and proof read articles from accomplished alumni for the college's quarterly magazine, "The Scholar."

Eugene, Oregon

As a sophomore in high school, I created and led the publicity deparment for my high school theater. I led this department until my senior year. I wrote press releases for local newspapers, was responsible for low-level fundraising (approximately $500), arranged trips to local radio stations for student theater broadcasts, and regularly organized 50+ students for poster distribution and handbill campaigns.

Master’S Degree, Secondary Education

Johns Hopkins Masters of Education (Teach For America National Program). Coursework includes: •Special education •Classroom management.

Ba, Double Major In Theatre Arts & History, 3.95 Gpa. Magna Cum Laude.

•Undergraduate thesis: Directing as a Journey: A Personal Investigation of How and Why to Direct a Play (passed with Distinction) •Minor.

High School, 3.98 Gpa

•Publicity manager and actor in the high school theater, member and co-captain of the debate team. •AP Spanish Student of the Year (2008).