Meghan Hatch-Geary is an English teacher at Woodland Regional High School in Regional School District 16. She is passionate about working with young people both inside and outside of the classroom. Hatch-Geary teaches freshman world literature and Advanced Placement English language and composition. She also teaches at the region’s alternative program. She is a founding member and co-advisor of Woodland Worldwide, which works to empower young women, developing their leadership skills through activism while expanding opportunities for women and girls both locally and globally. In 2013 the club received a “Recognition of Excellence” award from The Connecticut Association of Schools for "raising awareness about gender discrimination and media bias, promoting equal access to education for females, advancing leadership and service opportunities, combating gender stereotyping, and working to end human trafficking worldwide." Hatch-Geary was also named “A Woman to Watch” by the Connecticut Women’s Legal and Education Fund for "demonstrated leadership, potential to excel, and dedication to the community.” Originally from Meriden, CT, Hatch-Geary graduated from Maloney High School and studied musical theatre at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She lived, worked and volunteered in New York City while earning her bachelor’s degree in Black and Latino Studies from Hunter College. Inspired by her work at Hunter, she traveled overseas, volunteering as a primary-school teacher in Ghana and as a community-outreach educator in Ecuador. Those experiences had a profound impact, leading her to pursue her graduate degree in secondary English education at The University of New Haven.