Dr. Sarah Alexander

Subject: Language Arts / Social Sciences

What will my child walk away with? A more sophisticated understanding of how the social and natural worlds are constructed, and the analytical skills to engage with that complexity in their writing and thinking. My doctorate from Cornell and research on climate justice, food systems, and water equity give my classes an unusually concrete connection to real-world stakes.

What can families expect? Abundant energy, genuine excitement, and a classroom that balances academic rigor with a healthy and deliberate injection of fun. I have taught humanities and social sciences at Humber College, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Cornell University, and I bring that range of experience to how I work with students of every level.

What does class actually feel like? Eclectic and alive. My background spans gender studies, English literature, ethics, development sociology, and improv comedy — and I draw on all of it. Students have told me my classes are unlike anything they have encountered before, and families tell me their kids can’t wait to come back.

How do you challenge a curious mind? I connect the texts and ideas students are studying to the questions that researchers and communities are actively grappling with right now. A curious student who understands that real knowledge is contested and ongoing engages with material at a fundamentally different level than one who thinks the answers are already settled.

Credentials and Experience Ph.D. in Development Sociology, Cornell University. M.S. in Development Sociology, Cornell University. B.Ed., University of Toronto. B.A. in Gender Studies (minors in English Literature, Ethics, Philosophy, and Policy), Wells College. Research conducted with Cornell’s Community and Regional Development Institute on flood risk and climate-induced migration. Research on bottled water consumption in New York City. Executive Director of Water Watchers. Teaching experience at Humber College, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Cornell University. Experienced improv comedy performer in Toronto, New York City, and Los Angeles.