I build communities of teachers and learners towards a shared humanity, and write stories that hopefully change the world. Educator | Author | Sociologist | Speaker | Executive Director of EduColor. Join the movement!
Have you ever seen life events come to full circle right in front of you? As I'm in the process of looking for opportunities post-graduation, I needed a reminder of why I undertook this grounded doctoral work to begin with. Recently, I had the opportunity to watch one of my first students ever (Bianca Espinal) break both legs at The Angel Maker Musical. It was so cool watching her grow in her artistry. I’ve seen her sing at the Columbus Circle subway stop, and again for American Idol, but this added another dimension. The little seventh grader who I taught math to when I first became a teacher was still leading with her voice and her energy. Little did she know that, when I was in seventh grade, I had my first role as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. My middle school Nativity Mission Center was an all-boys school and we partnered with the all-girls school Holy Child Middle School, which is housed in the same building (Cornelia Connelly Center) as the theatre my former student would be performing in. Through this doctoral journey, I've gained expertise in sociology, mixed-methods research, recruitment and retention of teachers of color, and so many others, but what's grounded me this whole time is the anchor I developed through 15 years of teaching students math in Inwood / Washington Heights, NYC. And with students like Bianca, I learned more from them than I could have ever taught. It’s always good when you get to see a little light in another human being hoping they too will shine. #education #teaching #doctoral #sociology #highered
School Psychologist, NYCDOE
4moCongratulations!