Hometown: Houston, Texas

Undergraduate Institution: Trinity University

Undergraduate Degree: BS in Neuroscience

What experience(s) solidified your decisions to go into teaching?

I have always been passionate about getting into social justice work but didn’t know which field was right for me. Teaching was something I had always done but had never really realized. For example, in high school and during my undergrad I taught English to mothers in the local community and tutored kids. When I graduated college I reflected on my vision for the world and the world I would want to live in. It was then when I realized that teaching was the right field for me. Teaching is shaping the future of our world and empowering students to pursue their passions and curiosity. I realized teaching was an opportunity for me to learn from my students' lived experiences and the vast knowledge they come with, and it was an opportunity for me to share my knowledge with them. It is the one field where the teacher and the student are able to grow together as learners. After doing research in education, I realized everything I had done in my life had led me to go into teaching. For example, my background in Neuroscience guides my work in thinking about ways to help my students learn best. Moreover, I decided to teach science because I believe scientific inquiry can be a powerful tool for understanding social justice issues. Once I connected those dots, the decision was clear. My place is in teaching science.

If you had to describe teaching in the three words what would those be?

Empowering, Enriching, Loving

What is one thing you think all teachers should read, listen, or watch?

I recommend every teacher read For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood ...and the Rest of Y'all Too by Christopher Emdin. It was the first book I read regarding education and it solidified my decision to go into teaching. This book is perfect for all teachers, regardless of whether you’re an incoming teacher, a new teacher, or a veteran teacher.

Do you have any secret talents? 

I can visually learn dance routines by only seeing them few times (that’s because my mirror neurons are at work!)

What are you looking forward to in your student teaching next semester ?

I am looking forward to learning from my students and drawing from their experiences to help teach them the beauty of science. I am also excited about the flexibility to create units centered on real world issues and events that are interconnected to their lives. I look forward to hearing my students thoughts on how we contribute to local and global issues and how we can help alleviate them. But mostly, I am excited for my food unit where I will be teaching the science behind cooking and baking! We will examine how similar food differs between cultures because of the science behind how each of the food is made. Overall, I am excited to learn about my student’s cultures, the food they eat, and how we can all build relationships over the love of food… and science!

What has been your favorite MAT memory so far? 

My favorite memory is meeting up with a couple of people from the MAT program soon after I had arrived in Providence. These were people I had befriended during our online summer semester. We met up in Prospect Park and had the most lovely picnic while the sun set over Providence. Over the summer, I had a feeling that they would be my crew but after that picnic I knew I found my family and felt safe being in Providence, miles away from home.