Name: Alyx Healy
MAT Graduation Year: 1999
Current Position: National Board Certified English Teacher, E-Cubed Academy
Looking back, what was the most memorable or impactful part of your experience in the MAT program?
The most impactful part of my experience in the MAT program was my student teaching experience, which introduced me to the world of small schools and collaborative teaching.
Can you share a specific moment, project, or lesson from the program that has stuck with you throughout your career?
I came into the MAT program with some experience teaching in traditional school environments. My English Education advisor at the time recognized this and paired me with a co-operative teacher in a small alternative school that focused on interdisciplinary teaching and project based education. This experience expanded my understanding of school as a community.
What have you been doing professionally since graduating, and how has your career evolved over time?
After graduation, I have had the joy of serving the students of Providence in many ways with other Brown MAT alums and prospective MATs. I first served as a Brown Summer High School co-Principal with an MAT colleague and then as an English teacher at St. Andrew's school in Barrington, RI under an Brown MAT alum department head. When I took time off to have children, I worked part time as an educational consultant at the former Feinstein High School in Providence, where I did my student teaching as an MAT.
When I returned to full time, I came on as an English teacher at my current school, E-Cubed Academy, which was designed and developed by a cohort of small school advocates. This school is where I have been lucky enough to stay well over 20 years, and where I have continued to grow my teaching and leadership skills alongside other MAT alumni (one of whom was my Brown Summer High School co-Principal!). My MAT colleagues and I have supported each other as we achieved National Board Certification, Reading and Dyslexia Intervention endorsements, and an additional TESOL Masters. Brown alumni at our school also mentor aspiring MATs during their student teaching practicum, ushering other teacher-leaders into service.
Which skills or lessons from the MAT program have been most valuable to you in your career, and how have you applied them?
Instead of teaching in isolation, the MAT program helped me understand that teachers work best when partnering with colleagues to do backward planning, standards-based assessment, and authentic work. The program encouraged us to be teacher-leaders who not only served the needs of students in our classes, but also those of the whole school. I have used these practices in my role in the small school that I have taught in for the past 20+ years—serving as teacher, mentor, coach, committee member, accreditation chair, academic researcher, and grant writer.
What changes have you seen in the field of education since you graduated, and how do you think the MAT program prepared you to adapt?
Obviously, the greatest change since I began teaching has been the rapid advancement of technology—personal computing, social media, and AI. Whiteboards and projectors have given way to smart boards, learning apps, and digital platforms. The Brown MAT program perfectly prepared me to deal with these changes because my mentors and professors prioritized focusing on students and the skills they might need to be successful in the 21st century, no matter the speed of advancement. MATs are taught to be flexible, collaborative, and community-focused so that students are supported no matter the platform.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering applying to the program today?
Someone considering applying to the program should be looking for an immersive experience that encourages student-centered teaching, collaboration, flexibility, and leadership.
