Perfectly Suited

For the past 3 years I have worked in highly challenging urban schools because I believe all students can learn! I have seen teachers who are doing the best they can, who are struggling to keep their head above water, who care about their students but don't know how to meet their needs. For the most part, the teachers I have worked with teach because they believe the same thing I do; that the achievement gap in unacceptable! Failing schools are stressful places and when you walk into a classroom you can immediately get a sense of how the teacher is performing.

I took my corps members to Jenn's school today to observe how an education reform model can work. We wanted to ensure that the group of corps members we are developing this year have a well rounded sense of what education reform is and the different models out there. I took 7 corps members and everyone of them told me my sister is amazing!

Jenn is a perfectly suited and immensely qualified teacher. Her classroom runs like clockwork, the students are kind and respectful, and her ability to lead a classroom remarkable! Jenn has an innate grace and empathy that attracts adults but makes her students feel safe and willing to take risks. She is at the top of her field!

I received my acceptance phone call from City Year Washington DC while I was volunteering in her classroom and then proceeded to spend 10 months in a horrible kindergarten classroom in Southeast Washington, D.C,. When I came home during a break I went to Jenn's classroom to observe and pick up best practices. Watching her communicate to her students and seeing their self-regulation was incredible. I ended up sitting in her circle crying out of sheer awe of the community she had created. I realized then that she was masterful!

It is incredibly rewarding to see your sibling perform at that level. I am so proud of the teacher she is and how many lives she is affecting. If I've learned anything in 3 years with City Year its= is that teaching highly impacted youth is one of the toughest jobs and in planet and today I watched my sister make it look easy! She humbled me and renewed my sense of purpose in providing every student a safe and positive learning environment! Happy Birthday (a little early) Jenn and we are all so fortunate that you go to work each morning and teach!