Aidan

A native of Ireland, Aidan earned his B.A. in Natural Sciences from a prestigious university in Dublin. In his early years as an educator, Aidan taught English in Japan for five years. He has also worked as a volunteer for a Japanese NGO, PeaceBoat, that runs cruises where passengers learn about the various environmental, economic, or political struggles of the countries they visit, and have opportunities to do volunteer work there.  Aidan's journey with PeaceBoat was indeed what led him ultimately to Chicago. He met my wife, who is from Chicago, on the PeaceBoat. An avid world traveler, Aidan has Have traveled to 60+ countries through his work on the PeaceBoat and other recreational trips.

In 2006, Aidan moved to Chicago and earned an M.Ed. in Special Education (Learning Behavior Specialist I), after which he began teaching in Chicago Public Schools in 2010. Initially, Aidan worked as a Special Education teacher serving in all science classes. In 2016, he switched to the role of "General Education" 9th grade Physics teacher, when his school shifted from being a neighborhood school to a "selective enrollment" school. Currently, Aidan teaches 9th grade Physics, AP Physics 1, and AP Environmental Science. He is always looking to improve his craft and make the science curriculum more culturally responsive. Recently, Aidan earned his M.A. in Literacy Education.

Outside of class, Aidan maintains his love of travelling, and spends most summers hiking, camping, and enjoying the outdoors for as much time as possible. Aidan's other hobbies include cycling, reading, and visiting museums and galleries. As a side project, Aidan is currently trying to learn the "Lindy Hop" style of swing dancing!