Preparing as a scholar and a teacher

After five years teaching English and social studies, I was passionate about education, but didn’t know what path I wanted my career to take. Should I focus on research? Education policy? Return to teaching? Penn GSE helped me understand I wanted to be a school leader, and the type of school leader I wanted to be.

The coursework helped me re-examine my experiences working in a classroom in a city like Philadelphia. Sigal Ben-Porath's class on the philosophy of education made me reflect on what I believe is the purpose of education. Janine Remillard and other educators complemented those sessions with practical lessons on how we can fulfill those ideals.

Importantly, my time at Penn GSE did not cut me off from the day-to-day world of public education. Among other projects, I worked with Rand Quinn to study the impact of community partnerships in Philadelphia schools.

Throughout my time in the program, I kept asking myself, when I get back into a school, how will I support the students and staff there? All the while, a wide range of experiences, collaborations, and mentorships broadened my skill set as an educational leader. By the time I graduated, I was beginning to find my answer. It still guides my practice every day.