Biography

Joseph Rafter is committed to supporting classroom instructors in their mission to provide inclusive, student-centered learning experiences. He still holds his Advanced Professional Maryland Educator Certificate, and during his 15 years teaching high school in Maryland, he earned his Master of Educational Technology at Frostburg State University. In addition to teaching the Maryland high school English curriculum to all grades and skill levels, he has experience teaching both Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition and Advanced Placement English Language and Composition. He has also taught Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles.

 Following his time as a classroom teacher, Mr. Rafter supported teachers as a building-level instructional coach. He and the instructors would collaborate on centering student learning while effectively integrating educational technology in the secondary school classroom. He currently serves as an Instructional and Technical Designer at Frederick Community College in the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management & Public Safety. His responsibilities include designing courses for federal and state grant partners, delivering andragogically-focused college-wide professional development, and instructing foundational education courses in an adjunct capacity.

 Mr. Rafter strives to deliver effective instruction that uses the participant's time effectively and gives them tools or strategies they can use immediately. This results from discovering their needs and focusing on the necessary skills and tools to engage students, enhance lessons, and extend learning outside the classroom.

 Mr. Rafter is writing his dissertation in his Doctor of Educational Leadership program at Frostburg State University. His timely study explores the impacts of generative AI on writing instruction at the high school level. He serves on the board of directors of his local Rotary club while living in Western Maryland with his wife and daughter.