Jeff Kotkin is an accomplished educator (MA Elementary License, grades 1-6) with over 25 years of experience working with students of diverse strengths and backgrounds. He has a Master’s Degree in Historical Archaeology with an education focus. Jeff has worked on archaeological sites in a variety of locations and historical time periods, including Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH; a Revolutionary War encampment in Pluckemin, NJ; contract work in Maine; Magunkaquog, a 17th century “Praying Indian” community in Ashland, MA; and laboratory work at Norwich Castle in Norwich, England and at Cinnamon Bay in St. John, USVI.
He has taught third and fourth grade at Nixon Elementary School in Sudbury, MA since 2009, and he takes an active role in leadership positions on committees and in curriculum development. He is also the founder and Chief Education Officer of Wayside Tutoring, providing individualized instruction in all subjects for students in grades three through six.
Previously, Jeff taught fourth grade at Hunnewell School (Wellesley, MA) and at Brimmer and May School (Chestnut Hill, MA). At Boston’s Museum of Science he taught self-designed archaeology classes to students in grades 2-8. He also worked as the Education Programs Manager for Historic Neighborhoods Foundation (HNF), a non-profit educational organization that focused on teaching Boston’s history and architecture to students, residents and visitors. At HNF, Jeff taught in grades 3-12, developed curriculum, and led tours for thousands of suburban and Boston Public Schools students and adults in a variety of neighborhoods, including the South End, Charlestown, Roxbury, Dorchester, and Brighton.
He earned a BA from Brandeis University and completed his Master’s at UMass Boston.
Jeff is a former member and Chair of Framingham’s Historic District Commission and is an avid bee and chicken keeper. He loves spending time outdoors, traveling, hiking, camping, and exploring historical places.