Aaron was a pretty average student in school, with a GPA that was improved mostly by high marks in gym class, he joked. That is until he met a dynamic teacher, who made learning interesting by sharing how history is connected.

“From 10th grade on I knew. My global studies teacher was the one who inspired me because of the way that he taught,” Aaron said. Now with a recently earned master’s degree in education through Marist’s 5-year teaching program, Aaron has accepted a position at Poughkeepsie High School. That was where he student-taught and worked as a Marist Liberty Partnership Program staff member for the past few years.

“It was the only district I wanted to work in,” said the Manhattan native, who relocated to the mid-Hudson Valley. “I grew up in public school my entire life. Poughkeepsie reminded me of the school I went to.”

With a high dropout rate and large underserved population of children, Aaron feels he can have the greatest impact teaching in Poughkeepsie and being relatable in the classroom.

“I tell student struggling academically that I had my tough moments too. I went to summer school in seventh grade. I narrowly passed classes because I didn’t do my homework. But, I still went to college and got my act together,” he said. “That’s where teachers come in.” As he wrote on his Marist College essay, if he can inspire one of his own students to become a teacher who then helps someone else, he will feel successful.