08/20/2026
📌 Lumen Academy Faculty Focus
📣 Meet Ms. Julie Mason - English Language (ELA) Teacher — the newest addition to Lumen Academy!
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I became a teacher because I was inspired by the extraordinary educators I encountered as a student at Dana Hall School. They challenged me intellectually, nurtured my curiosity, and demonstrated the transformative power of great literature. Since beginning my career in the New York City public schools in 2009, I have taught English in grades 6–12, including AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition, primarily in independent schools. Throughout my career, I have designed courses that challenge students to think deeply, write with purpose, and discover the enduring relevance of great literature.
I hold a B.A. in English from Connecticut College and an M.A. in English Education from New York University. I was also honored to participate in Harvard University's Project Zero Classroom Fellowship, where I explored how inquiry, visible thinking, and purposeful classroom discussion can deepen student understanding. That experience fundamentally shaped my approach to teaching and continues to influence my classroom today. I believe students learn best when they are actively engaged in making meaning: asking thoughtful questions, wrestling with complex ideas, collaborating with their peers, and reflecting on their own thinking. My goal is to create a classroom defined by intellectual curiosity, high expectations, and authentic relationships, where students become not only stronger readers and writers but also more thoughtful, empathetic, and confident people.
My passion for teaching eventually expanded beyond the classroom. As an instructional coach with BetterLesson, I partnered with K–12 teachers across the country, facilitating professional learning, coaching educators, and helping them design engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Supporting teachers reminded me that meaningful learning is contagious: when educators continue to grow, their students do too.
When I am not teaching, designing curriculum, or inevitably thinking about teaching, you'll usually find me taking a dance class, out for a run, curled up with a great book, or searching for an exceptional cup of coffee. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three children, who keep life joyful, busy, and full of adventure.
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💛 Join us in welcoming Ms. Julie Mason to the Lumen family!
