As Brown Summer High School (BSHS) kicks off another exciting summer of learning, three familiar faces are stepping into vital leadership roles. Alums Conor Mynahan, Eliana Lopez, and Angel Arrazola MAT'26 are serving as the program's principals, guiding day-to-day operations and supporting the newest cohort of Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) students.
The summer program serves as the official launchpad for incoming MATs, who dive into hands-on teaching through morning enrichment classes for local high schoolers. Instead of navigating this introduction alone, the new teachers are backed by a deep support network of faculty, staff, veteran mentor teachers, and alumni principals who just walked in their shoes.
For this year’s leadership team, returning to BSHS is a true full-circle moment. "BSHS was where I first started to truly imagine what kind of high school teacher I wanted to be," says Eliana, a Pawtucket native who oversees the morning program alongside Conor. "I wanted to help build the same encouraging environment that launched my amazing experience in the MAT program."
Conor agrees, noting that the unique culture of BSHS brings out the best in both educators and youth. "I wanted to step into this role because I knew I’d have the opportunity to create the same welcoming, supportive environment that meant so much to me when I first arrived in Providence," he says. "I want to create a seamless experience where both teachers and students can focus on personal, academic, and professional growth."
Putting Theory into Practice
Having navigated the intensity of the MAT year firsthand, the principals view BSHS as a vital, transformative launchpad where theoretical coursework transforms into real-world practice.
"BSHS gives MATs a lower-stakes space to get their feet wet as educators before the fall arrives," Eliana explains. "It’s where you move away from just indulging in theory and actually start putting it into practice. Co-conspirator teaching, joy, and justice as the foundation for high expectations really start to take shape when you put them in front of real students."
Conor emphasizes that the freedom to experiment is what makes the summer program so unique. "BSHS allows MATs to imagine teaching as they hope to see it and contribute to it, not just as it exists—a level of autonomy that is truly unique to this environment." He notes that working with a diverse student body ultimately prepares the cohort for the realities of urban education in Rhode Island. "It is the rigor of the summer programs that ensures MATs are providing culturally responsive instruction in their full-time student teaching."
That growth happens rapidly, often measured in daily adjustments. Angel, who serves as the after-school principal, recalls his own sharp learning curve: "On my very first day last year, it took my co-teacher and I 30 minutes just to take attendance! But we debriefed with our mentor teacher, fine-tuned our strategies, and reduced that time to a single minute the following day. The feedback you receive as you’re teaching is invaluable to your growth."
Innovation and Advocacy in the Classroom and Beyond
This summer, the principals are helping the new MAT candidates bring a dynamic, hands-on curriculum to life, spanning traditional academic blocks and afternoon programs.
Conor highlights the creative, cross-disciplinary projects taking shape on campus. "One of my favorite projects is from the math cohort. Students are exploring how math influences music, and they will actually be constructing their own musical instruments using materials collected over the course of the summer! I’m also excited to support the social studies cohort in their creation of protest posters for an activist exhibition."
Eliana is equally enthusiastic about the humanities curriculum's focus on youth empowerment. "Having just graduated from the social studies cohort, I’m particularly excited for their unit focusing on the East LA Walkouts. Their final project centers on advocacy, so I’m overjoyed to help guide the MATs in helping their high school students find their voice."
When the morning bell rings, the learning doesn't stop. As the after-school principal, Angel spearheads the afternoon enrichment and athletic programs, ensuring that student community-building extends outside the classroom walls.
"The after-school programs offer additional experiences for students to pursue interests outside of academics," Angel says. "Last year, I got to see students connecting over basketball, soccer, and volleyball. I recall grabbing a soccer ball and kicking it around with a student. Slowly, more students who didn't even know each other would join in. My MAT training gave me the confidence to take on this role; daily lesson planning prepared me perfectly for the logistics required to get these afternoon programs up and running."
Words of Wisdom for Day One
We asked the principals what single piece of advice they would give to a new MAT candidate standing in front of their very first classroom on a nervous summer morning:
- Eliana: "Breathe. Lead with relationship building, not content. Students can tell within seconds whether you actually see them or whether you’re just executing a lesson plan."
- Conor: "Remember to be true to who you are... Authenticity as an educator allows you to form the types of relationships that allow you to hold high expectations and inspire the next generation."
- Angel: "Have fun with it! As long as you are having fun with what you’re doing, the students will feel that energy. You may make mistakes, but you’re learning alongside the students."
Looking Ahead
For Eliana, the program also serves as a critical bridge between the university and local youth. "I see BSHS as a chance to make sure Rhode Island’s students have the opportunity to see themselves in spaces they might have never thought would be available to them—Brown’s campus," she says.
When the summer ends, the leadership team will continue making an impact locally. Eliana will officially join the faculty at Legacy High School in Providence teaching Civics, while Conor will cross the state line to teach high school social studies at North Attleborough High School and serve as the head coach of the varsity boys volleyball program (while happily continuing to live in Providence). Angel plans to leverage his intensive training into local educational roles that maintain a strong work-life balance while keeping his long-term K-12 teaching goals in sight.