I decided to become a teacher when I was in undergrad and initially pursued a degree in education. But after a few years, taking courses and managing college life and classes became complicated. I ended up changing my major, but I never lost my zest for learning or my desire to teach others.
When I was young, my aunt, who was also a teacher, raised my sister and me. Although she wasn’t teaching at the time, she made our childhood a classroom-like environment. She started us off with art projects, summer packets, and other educational activities.
During my last year of undergrad, my aunt was going through a battle with cancer. It was very difficult to keep up with class during that period. After she passed away, I still had a few months to go before graduation. I felt lost and unsure of what to do next.
One day, I went on Handshake and saw there was some type of teaching forum going on. So I went on the Zoom, and it turned out to be hosted by Teach for America. I filled out their application and applied. A few days later, I discovered City Teaching Alliance. After researching their program, I thought it might be a good fit as well, so I applied there too.
Both programs were residency-based teaching programs, and it was hard to decide between them—they were neck and neck. I knew I wanted to stay in Philly. One of our program directors and coordinators spoke on a Zoom call about the importance of support—not just for students but also for teachers. This resonated deeply with me, especially after losing my aunt, who was like a mother figure to me.
I realized that what I needed most was support. I wanted support as an educator, as a college student, and in my personal life. That sense of support is why I chose to stay in Philly, with CTA, and it’s why I’m still here today.
I have a professor who is also my coach. She provides elbow coaching, which is a form of immediate feedback that allows for on-the-spot corrections. Later, we receive more detailed feedback that is not as immediate. I think every new teacher should get that.
Having a host teacher is also a great benefit because, unlike some other programs where you start teaching right away with less preparation time, City Teaching Alliance offers a four-year teaching program. I wanted someone to walk with me through this journey so that I could become an effective teacher.
My host teacher, Miss Jasmine Brockington, is probably one of the best ELA teachers out there, not only because of her instruction but also because of the love she shares with her students. This has influenced me as an educator because it’s not just about perfecting every lesson plan but about showing up for students every single day and providing them with positivity and love. It’s about helping them be good citizens.
Teaching is a skill and an art, not something you can just do. I’m grateful to have a teacher with whom I have an amicable relationship and who helps create a positive classroom environment.
I relate to Miss Brockington in regard to her resilience. Even though she has had a great deal of loss, she continues to get in front of the students and does not allow the trials and tribulations of life to interfere with the joy that she brings.
As an educator, one of the key lessons I’ve learned from my host teacher is that you can’t get through everything. Even when you think you have everything planned out, life happens, and you may not get through an entire lesson as expected.
Our goal is not just to check off points on a list or to perform for a principal or state evaluator. The real goal is to make a difference in our students’ lives. What we say matters; it can alter their day and impact their lives significantly. This is one of the major insights my host teacher and I have shared, and it has truly illuminated what it means to be an effective educator.
Every student in the classroom is not the same. We have students who are visual learners, kinesthetic learners, and have special needs. Every student is not going to gain the same knowledge from the same curriculum. The curriculum doesn’t address the complexities the students will have to go through when they approach the information.
We serve one of the most underserved areas in the heart of North Philadelphia. A lot of our students see gun violence, crime, and poverty. We have a trauma specialist at our school because of mental health. It’s just the reality that every student is not afforded what they might be at an affluent school.
We have students here who might go hungry, and students who might be struggling with something that’s more emotional. A lot of our students have lost people, and they had to go home to an older brother or sister. They might not have homework help or reading resources — access to the different things that they need to help them learn and progress in life.
I grew up in Philly, so I know the Philadelphia school district and its lack of resources and educational services. This makes me want to continue in the education field because students need and deserve the best. They deserve intentionality and guidance.
Reflecting on history and the reality of what has happened over time, marginalized and underserved communities have been affected by the quality and inequity of education. This reinforces why I come in every day. I want students who look like me to understand that they can go to college, excel, be educated, and love learning. There is nothing wrong with loving to be educated and leaning on those principles and pillars in our lives.
I’ve learned that there are times in life when you may not want to learn, but when you see the end goal and understand where education can take you, it becomes the key to success, and your possibilities are endless. That’s why I’m still here.
Even when I was younger, knowing the history of what figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, and Phyllis Wheatley went through for my education has been a driving force. That’s why I’m here.
Our history matters. It matters to me. I wasn’t born during those times, but I was raised in part by my great-grandmother, who was born in 1930 during the Great Depression and wasn’t afforded the type of education I receive today. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I fight hard to get educated.
I want our students and our community to strive for more than just a high school diploma. While a diploma is good, we can do better. There are alternative paths to education, and it doesn’t have to end just because you’re tired. Are you going to work towards education, be the best you can be, and flourish in life? Or are you going to choose the harder road, not pursue anything, and still have to struggle because you lack education and resources?
Both paths are hard, but the path of education offers greater opportunities.
In terms of the struggles of teaching, there’s always that element of underpayment. Sometimes, it’s not even about the pay; it might just be kids being rebellious and disrespectful and all of those struggles that you have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Because truthfully, in a classroom environment, it will not always be stars, sunshine, and rainbows. There will be some really hard weeks. But you have to look past those moments and ask, ‘Why am I here?’
Those moments can determine who you are as an educator. Every emotion is valid, but some are coming from a more negative place.
Children are yelling or not following directions, and those things can deter your joy over time and chip away the light that you had. Students attack their classmates, because they’re still trying to figure out how to process their own emotions, while you’re processing on a personal level as an educator.
That’s why it’s important for educators to have days when we replenish ourselves and take mental health seriously. Teachers need support. We are dealing with our own lives, and then we are dealing with 35 other little brains that don’t know how to express their emotions properly.
It’s almost like a therapist or a psychologist; you have to listen to multiple people’s pain, and if you are not getting the right mental health care that you need, then after a few years, you will get burnt out.
The work can’t be student-centered if it’s not also teacher-centered. That’s why it’s important to take care of yourself as an educator.
–Nya Griffin
Teacher in The School District of Philadelphia
City Teaching Alliance Fellow, Cohort 2023
Philadelphia, PA
