English teacher Valter Ulaj joined George F. Baker High School in January, bringing with him more than a decade of experience and a clear passion for education. After starting his career at a Bronx charter school and spending 11 years teaching middle and high school English in New York City, Ulaj is excited to be part of the Tuxedo Union Free School District community.
Though he originally planned to become a lawyer, Ulaj’s path changed while working as a college writing consultant. Helping students strengthen their writing sparked a love for teaching that eventually pulled him into the classroom. Since then, he has taught everything from AP Literature and Creative Writing to theater, even coaching girls varsity soccer — always looking for ways to blend his interests with student learning.
At GFB, Ulaj teaches ninth grade English, AP Language and several electives. He is especially proud of “What’s Up Wednesdays,” a weekly exercise in his AP Language class where students research, analyze and present current events — sharpening their writing and expanding their awareness of the world around them.
Ulaj believes inspired teaching requires constant learning. He is committed to evolving with his students, staying informed and finding new ways to engage. “A good teacher seldom teaches the same lesson twice,” he says. He also hopes to bring more theater and student publishing opportunities to GFB, building on successful projects from his previous school.
For Ulaj, teaching is about impact. “If we’re helping students become better thinkers, writers and people — then we’ve done something that matters.”