Extracurricular Strengths
In addition to teaching, I have several other main passions when working with young people. Outside of the classroom, I would welcome the opportunity to work with students as a coach, instructor, or mentor. Specifically, at Washtenaw International High School & Middle Academy I serve as a sponsor and leader for a number of student clubs and enrichments. Furthermore, I have experience coaching girls field hockey and working with teenagers on journalism and multimedia projects.
Clubs & Enrichments
While working at Washtenaw International High School & Middle Academy, I have the pleasure of sponsoring a number of different extracurricular activities for students. Although based on student interest and initiative, these areas have become passions of my own and encourage me to help young people engage in meaningful and critical conversations as global citizens, thoughtful consumers, and empathetic listeners. The list below provides an overview, but more information about each area and my roles and responsibilities with each group are available upon request.
Clubs: Student organizations that meet once a week
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- Everyone's Free (2013-2015): a non-profit organization in Michigan started by a student, this school chapter of the organization focuses on raising awareness and funds to help North Korean refugee children get to and succeed in South Korea (now known as Bluebird NK)
- Journalism Club (2014-2016): working with a small group of reporters and editors to write and publish about local and global events
- Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI): a brief over of key aspects of social identities and different forms of oppression in the United States combined with student-led development of activities for their peers to engage in similar discussions and reflections
- Introduction to Psychology: a very brief introduction to key ideas, topics, and questions in the field of psychology
- Journalism: focused on developing skills in writing, interviewing, editing, and understanding the changing world of journalism
- Human Rights in North Korea: an opportunity to think critically about human rights globally and understanding the specific issues, complications, and possible solutions to abuses in North Korea from multiple perspectives
- Public Policy & Grant Writing: focused on local leadership opportunities and understanding of public policy and the many different ways to become a contributing participant in the creation and implementation of such policies
Field Hockey
I played at Swarthmore College.
I started playing field hockey when I was eight years old, and I fell in love with the sport. I have experience playing both attack and defense, playing an outside midfielder in high school and either midfield or defense in college. I served as a co-captain for my senior seasons in both high school and college and was named to Second Team All Conference during my senior season at Swarthmore College. Playing field hockey taught me about the joys and struggles of working with a team, and it showed me how to balance both academics and extracurricular activities. I learned so much from working with my teammates, and I hope to help other young women find similar experiences through coaching.
In addition to playing from third grade all the way through college, I also have coaching experience. For the 2015 and 2016 seasons, I was the head coach of the junior varsity team at Huron High School in Ann Arbor. In the fall of 2014, I returned to my high school team as a volunteer coach with one of the junior varsity teams, and prior to this I volunteered as a coach for girls from ages 7-15. Throughout all of these experiences I designed practices to develop skills, foster team unity and communication, and build strength and endurance. As the JV head coach, I also learned how to support team fundraising efforts, effectively communicate with families, and manage many of the administrative responsibilities of sports in today's world. Most importantly, throughout these experiences, I built relationships to support, encourage, and challenge young women as student-athletes.
In addition to playing from third grade all the way through college, I also have coaching experience. For the 2015 and 2016 seasons, I was the head coach of the junior varsity team at Huron High School in Ann Arbor. In the fall of 2014, I returned to my high school team as a volunteer coach with one of the junior varsity teams, and prior to this I volunteered as a coach for girls from ages 7-15. Throughout all of these experiences I designed practices to develop skills, foster team unity and communication, and build strength and endurance. As the JV head coach, I also learned how to support team fundraising efforts, effectively communicate with families, and manage many of the administrative responsibilities of sports in today's world. Most importantly, throughout these experiences, I built relationships to support, encourage, and challenge young women as student-athletes.
Journalism & Youth Media
Three VFC students worked together on a project.
As a Lang Opportunity Scholar at Swarthmore College, I used the $10,000 in grant money to start the Chester Voices for Change (VFC) program to offer teens in Chester, PA an opportunity to become youth media producers. I worked with the teens for six weeks in the summer of 2009 and helped them to fully produce a 40-minute film, entitled Through Our Eyes. The ten teens I worked with wrote, acted in, filmed, directed, and edited the film together. More information about this program can be found at http://chestervfc.wordpress.com. The work continued with a new, smaller group of teens the following year during my fellowship at Research for Action in Philadelphia.
My experience working with VFC helped me grow as an educator. It taught me about how to work with young people, incorporate their ideas and feedback, create daily lesson plans, and encourage group collaboration. I would love any opportunity to work with young people on journalism or multimedia projects. I think the power to voice one's stories to a broader audience is incredible, and I hope to help adolescents work together to share their stories.
My experience working with VFC helped me grow as an educator. It taught me about how to work with young people, incorporate their ideas and feedback, create daily lesson plans, and encourage group collaboration. I would love any opportunity to work with young people on journalism or multimedia projects. I think the power to voice one's stories to a broader audience is incredible, and I hope to help adolescents work together to share their stories.