Karen Doyle is a veteran teacher in Manhattan who participated in our Authenticity in the Classroom professional development course offered in partnership with the NYC Department of Education After School Professional Development Program. Over the past 19 years, Karen has taught 4th through 8th grades in various schools and is currently a STEAM teacher at St. Ann School in East Harlem. We asked Karen to talk about her experience with Authenticity in the Classroom and what she’ll take back to her classroom.
Q: What attracted you to this professional development course?
A: I am always looking to learn new techniques and strategies to enhance my students’ learning, and I wanted to become more familiar with the new NY State Standards on Social-Emotional Learning. The timing, location, and pricing of the course were right for me as well.
Q: What did you expect to learn from the course?
A: Since the title of the course included the word authenticity, I figured we would learn how to be more genuine with our students.
Q: Did the course meet your expectations?
A: Yes, it actually surpassed my expectations. There was time for reflection about our current teaching practices and an emphasis on the importance of students practicing mindfulness in the classroom. The course provided insight that the teacher could be a model of perseverance and resilience for a student. I liked the method of using an art project that could help students express their feelings.
Q: What was one thing you’d learned that surprised you?
A: It’s necessary to make time for self-care so I will be able to cope physically, mentally, and emotionally with the demands of teaching.
Q: What will you take back to your classroom?
A: I left the course with a concrete action plan using SMART goals that I could implement immediately in the new school year. I learned some new management skills and tools that would enhance my classroom environment. The idea that it’s important to build a supportive school community and create professional relationships in my school.
Q: How was this PD different from other PD’s you’ve taken in the past?
A: I liked the small round table discussions. Novice and veteran teachers from diverse backgrounds were able to share and learn from each other in this intimate setting. Alex, Mark, and Anya asked open-ended questions so the teachers were able to voice their opinions, suggestions, and concerns in a non-judgmental way. The facilitators invited us to try different methods. Personal feedback was given to each teacher based on his/her goals and implementation plan. At the end of the course, I left feeling a part of a supportive community that could be a resource for me if need be.