English and Reading

This is my 33rd year as a teacher!! My grown daughters attended APS schools – McKinley, Swanson and W-L. I am a National Board Certified Teacher in Literacy. I am a proud UVA alum. My husband and I live in Arlington and enjoy our backyard fish pond.

I grew up in Florida, lived in Germany and Japan, and have lived in Arlington 30+ years. My husband and I have two grown children and three dogs. My first career was as a software engineer, and then I went to University of Virginia graduate school to become a reading specialist. I enjoy kayaking, camping, Sudoku, and, of course, reading!

I was one of those kids who read under the covers with a flashlight after bedtime! I love reading and, more importantly, love sharing reading with others. I grew up in Philadephia and lived in many different place, like Munich, Germany and Atlanta, GA, before settling in Arlington. I have two wonderful kids who have gone through APS schools (Long Branch, Jefferson MS and W-L). I am also the head coach of rowing at W-L. I love being on the water or hanging out with my kids and dog after school!

My philosophy is all students can learn. I have a passion for the youth; to educate, mentor, and learn from them. Preteens are wildly creative and open-minded; it's a joy to work alongside them. Aside from teaching, I love yoga, cooking, listening to music and traveling. I returned from teaching abroad in 2020. It was a wonderful experience and I am thankful for it.

I grew up in Arlington. My favorite local spots are: the National Museum of Natural History in DC, Lost Dog Cafe in Westover, Potomac Overlook, and Gong Cha bubble tea. I am a graduate of Arlington Public Schools; I attended H-B Woodlawn when it was in our building! After H-B, I went to college at William and Mary in Williamsburg. I studied English and Linguistics, then decided to get my master’s degree in Education. I love mysteries, traveling, reading, and playing Ultimate frisbee.

In my free time, I love to mountain bike, grill in my backyard, and play with my two dogs.

As an Arlington native, I am a product of Arlington Public Schools. After graduating from W-L, I went to the University of Richmond for undergrad and to Marymount University for grad school. To no one's surprise, I am an English teacher who loves to read and write. My favorite genres are mystery and historical fiction!

I grew up in Dover, Delaware and moved to DC/Arlington right after college. I have worked in Arlington County for 15 years, first as an assistant at Gunston Middle School and now as a teacher at Dorothy Hamm. I am not only an APS employee but also an APS parent. My son will graduate from Wakefield High School, just like his father.

I am excited to begin my nineteenth year of teaching and my fourth here at Dorothy Hamm. While I call Arlington home, I'm originally from Michigan (Go Green!). I am married to a techie husband, and together we have two recent college graduates, both of whom are proud products of APS schools. I am an avid reader and runner. Indie bands fill my Spotify playlist, and I never miss The Daily (NYT) podcast. Mostly what I love, though, is engaging middle schoolers as readers, writers and speakers; their spirit, imaginations, and passions create the soul of our classroom community.

I was born and raised in New York, but moved to Virginia to attend Virginia Tech - Go Hokies! I graduated in 2019 with my Bachelor's degree in Literature and Language with minors in history and communications. I graduated again in 2020 with my Master's degree in Secondary English Curriculum and Instruction. This will be my fourth year teaching, and my second year at Dorothy Hamm and APS! I am so excited to be a Phoenix. I enjoy spending time with my wonderful family and friends. My hobbies include reading, pilates, and traveling.

In over a decade of work in Virginia schools, Beth Sanderson has designed reading intervention programs, taught English and reading in the classroom, and taken a leadership role in professional learning initiatives. Ms. Sanderson has presented at local and national conferences hosted by the Virginia State Reading Association, Association of Middle Level Educators, Learning Forward, and Arlington Public Schools. Prior to her work in education, Ms. Sanderson was vice president of a Washington, D.C. public affairs firm helping clients craft effective communication programs. She is married with one terrific son. The family has three golden doodles: Max, Georgia and Cooper.