With a BA in philosophy from the New School in 1990 and a year of drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts under his belt the following year, Chris took an unconventional path to teaching.  First, there were five years as a stage actor; then a couple of years at St. Johns in Annapolis, where he received his master’s in liberal studies in 1996; and finally six years in web design and other facets of the computer business.  By 2002, he finally got around to doing what he had meant to do for some time: he quit IBM and became an English teacher—first at Lake Clifton High School and then at ACCE.  In his second year as an advisor at Independence, Chris is a strong advocate for more reading and community service among his students.