I remember feeling excited and determined to return to school and become a teacher despite having no experience or idea about what it really entails. I began searching for schools and landed on Empire State College’s MAT online program. It was through this program’s clear cut, yet comprehensive, curriculum and incredible guidance from expert faculty mentors, professors, financial aid officers, and pre-service teacher candidates, that I was able to reach this goal.
I became...
I remember feeling excited and determined to return to school and become a teacher despite having no experience or idea about what it really entails. I began searching for schools and landed on Empire State College’s MAT online program. It was through this program’s clear cut, yet comprehensive, curriculum and incredible guidance from expert faculty mentors, professors, financial aid officers, and pre-service teacher candidates, that I was able to reach this goal.
I became certified on November 12, 2016 and landed my first job as a 6th and 7th grade math teacher at a renewal school in the South Bronx called Hunts Point Middle School. Although I did not know it at the time, I was handed some of the most challenging aspects of this profession – over-crowded classrooms, extended learning time (ELT), out of compliance inclusion classroom due to student ratios (65% special education to 35% general education), and the absence of a co-teacher. Administration and union reps simply responded to the situation by stating that its due to the school being understaffed. Teachers there told me that they are understaffed because nobody wants to work there. I learned after I was hired that this school was on its third and final year before it will be closed down.
I had the right attitude and just happy to be working. I was able to continue on in the ESC teaching program, I had a classroom of my very own and most importantly, I was around young people and building relationships. Students soon realized I was a bit different than other teachers. For example, I remember the look on Angels’s face when I approached him and Carlos in the streets after school to have a real conversation about why it’s not cool to bully the new student. Angel appreciated how I spoke to Carlos – not belittling, not threatening, but with respect and from the heart. Both students knew I cared. I was only at Hunts Point for a year. The following school year (2017 – 2018) I landed a job at Pomona Middle School – a focus scho
