Currently Teaches:

• PreCalculus, Honors Algebra II, Algebra II, AP Computer Science Principles
• Volunteers Female Athlete’s Leadership Council, Faculty Advisor: Penguin Plunge, Special Olympics of Vermont - Fundraiser, Assistant Swim Coach: Burlington Tennis Club, Volunteer Computer Science Summer Camp Counselor, Boys and Girls Club of Burlington 

Background:

• Engineering  A.B.  Brown University 
• Mathematics Teaching and Learning,  M.Ed.  Rutgers University
• National Honor Society in Education
• Society of Women Engineers
• All-American in Swimming
• AP Calculus & AP Computer Science Principles Certified Teacher
• Has been at Rice since 2011

Get to Know Her:

–
I enjoy teaching Computer Science Principles because it is exciting to create an APP from scratch, write the code to make it work and see an end product that is pretty amazing.  The students have so many creative ideas and pick up building APPs so quickly.  I also enjoy the process, no program runs perfectly the first time and there is always room for improvement.  So, this creates an environment where mistakes are expected and everyone feels at liberty to take risks and try to create just about anything.  

I choose to teach at Rice because we have a community of students who want to learn and who  enjoy learning.  The students, faculty and staff come to school with the willingness to think outside the box and embrace intellectual curiosity.  I also work at Rice because it is a faith based community , with a strong sense of honesty, integrity and compassion.  The guiding principles at Rice encourage a kind and considerate community that allows for the celebration of  each individual's uniqueness without judgment or exclusion.  In addition, the faculty and staff are one of the best that I have worked with and they inspire me to strive for excellence in teaching and learning.

What is your favorite thing about your job? The favorite thing about my job is to be able to witness when a student has an “aha” moment. Or a student that has not had a particular interest or strong ability in Math, who finds their way to achieving great things.  Or a student who struggles all the time and has small and more frequent successes as the year goes on. I also enjoy getting to know the students outside of the classroom and being a part of their various experiences over their four years at Rice. My hope is that I am able to inspire and be a mentor for at least one student every year.

If you had an unexpected afternoon off, what would you do with your time? I would go for a walk with a friend, get my dogs and go for a hike or go biking along the causeway with my husband. If snow was falling, I would grab my snowshoes, or nordic skis, or my snowboard and hit the mountain trails.  

Best vacation/trip you’ve ever been on: Starting in Saint Lucia with 6 friends, one of whom is my husband today, and a Captain, we boarded a 34’ Beneteau and sailed south to St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands.  In ports of call we hiked up the Piton Mountains, joined the locals for a yearly festival, danced to a steel drum band, and shopped and dined at the local markets and restaurants.  Many hours of relaxation, taking over the helm of the boat, and great conversation ensued while we sailed around the islands. 

Favorite tradition/fieldtrip/project you do in your classroom each school year: My students tell me that their favorite time in my classroom is when we go off topic and talk about real issues and real situations a teenager faces as they experience high school and their “flight” out of the nest as they head to college. These times have been dubbed “Life Lessons with Ms. Langan”.

Favorite Rice tradition or event: Stunt Nite! Whether as a faculty advisor, dance coach or spectator. The dress rehearsal the day before the show is my favorite time as I get to see the students support each other and I also get to support them before they go “live” on stage the next day. My other favorite event at Rice are the pep rallies, the students show a great sense of community and participation.  The DRUM LINE is amazing and gets the entire school cheering!! 

Favorite Rice Sports Team to watch: It is not fair to name my favorite sports team to watch at Rice, as I love them all.  Of course my ultimate favorite sports teams to watch are the ones that include my students.

Favorite Professional Sports Team or Athlete: My favorite athletes to watch are my children, in the following competitive sports: Rugby, Ice Hockey, LaCrosse, Basketball and Soccer. My husband and I travel almost anywhere to see them play.  

Anything else you'd like to say? My family has hosted (5) student-athletes, players on the Men’s Prep Ice Hockey team, over the last 6 years.  We have enjoyed getting to know these young men and their families back home.  We still keep in touch with most of them as they were a part of our family for the school year.  We have been known, more than once, to travel to the Boston area to watch them play with their Junior Hockey teams.  GO RICE KNIGHTS!

If a prospective family asked you “why should I send my student to Rice,” what would you say? My oldest daughter transferred from South Burlington High School to Rice after her junior year. One day we were walking down the guidance hallway from the pep rally and she said to me, “You know mom, I have always had opinions about things, but at Rice I really feel like I have a voice.” My daughter was able to explore more activities that she would have at a larger public school. At Rice you are able, and encouraged, to get involved and challenge yourself to try new things. I saw my daughter go from a rose bud to a rose flower with many layers and a richness and fullness that she would have never realized had she not been at Rice. Her only regret was that she was not at Rice for all of her four years of high school.