My Trial As a Teacher

OPENING STATEMENT

(INTRODUCTION)

The past two years have been a trial to determine whether my contribution to society should be teaching young minds.  This portfolio captures glimpses of my two-year teaching experience at an inner-city Mississippi high school as a member of the Mississippi Teacher Corps.  How this journey began is described below.   

I was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi.  My parents are both educators.  My mother taught at J.J. McClain High School in Lexington, Mississippi for 25 years and at Hazlehurst Middle School for four years, and my father has been a professor at Jackson State University for almost 30 years. 

I am a product of Jackson Public School District (JPS).  I attended Davis Magnet School, Chastain Middle School, and Murrah High School, and was a participant in the Academic and Performing Arts Complex.  I graduated from Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Science in Physics.  After serving as an analyst at Pepsico Business Solutions Group in Plano, Texas for a year, I enrolled in Harvard Law School.  After graduating from law school, I practiced law as an associate at a civil defense law firm in Jackson for almost two years.

Because I gained my academic foundation in public schools and was reared in a family of educators, I have always wanted to contribute to the public education system.  Throughout undergrad and law school, I enjoyed tutoring and mentoring middle school and high school students.  I consider education to be the key to the improvement of the African American community.     

Due to my commitment and interest in public education, I decided in 2006 to devote a few years of my life to teaching.  After researching my options, I applied to Mississippi Teacher Corps.  I felt that I could contribute to a Jackson school by not only teaching subject area content, but by serving as a role model to students.  I wanted them to see that a product of Jackson Public Schools can succeed if he/she is willing to work hard.  I also felt that it was important to demonstrate to students the importance of giving back to their community whenever an opportunity presents itself. 

While I knew that I would probably not remain as a K-12 educator for more than a few years, I joined MTC because I wanted to experience being a teacher so that I would have a better idea of the condition of the educational system in my community.  I wanted to gain insight that would be valuable should I ever be in a position to affect education law and policy. 

Finally, I joined Mississippi Teacher Corps because I felt that it was the path that God wanted me to take.  This was a stop that God directed me to take as He prepares me to do some future work for Him.