What's it like to be in the NLU Teach for America track? We sat down with TFA graduate Samantha Elster to ask her about the experience. Check out her responses below!
NCE: What drew you to participate in the TFA-NLU teacher preparation program?
Samantha: I’ve always had a passion for educational equity. There are so many children that have limitless potential, but don’t have the opportunity to reach that potential—that’s why I joined the TFA-NLU preparation program. The opportunity to help even just one child fulfill their potential and achieve their goals is something I’m grateful for.
NCE: What were the most challenging and rewarding aspects of this experience?
Samantha: The most challenging aspect of this experience was definitely the immediacy in which we were expected to lead a classroom. It is nearly impossible to understand the true day-in and day-out of leading a full classroom in a high-need area until you actually do it—there is so much planning, preparation, and necessary flexibility/adaptability required every single day. However, the rewards surpass the challenges with flying colors. For me, the most rewarding aspect of this experience is the ongoing relationships I built with so many of my students and their families. Aside from seeing them grow in the classroom, I’ve been able to grab meals with my students and their families, attend dance recitals and little league football games, and stay in touch as they grow older. These moments have made every obstacle incredibly worth it.
NCE: How did what you learned in your two-year classroom experience correlate with your NLU courses?
Samantha: In my two-year classroom experience, I learned so much: how to manage a classroom, how to differentiate learning so that every student’s academic needs are met, how to analyze data to optimize student growth. While many of these skills were enhanced by the knowledge I gained from my NLU courses, I think the most prominent connection between these experiences is the knowledge on how to reach every child in your classroom. Yes, we learned about diverse learning abilities and strategies to help these students grow, but we also worked to understand how to reach the entire child as an educator. Whether it is their background, their family life, their personalities, or their experiences, we dedicated so much time and thought into how we can help each of these unique students grow both inside and outside of the classroom.
NCE: How did being a TFA Corps Member support your growth as a teacher candidate? What additional skills or tools did you learn during your two-year placement that you may not have gained through a traditional 11-week student teaching experience?
Samantha: Being a TFA Corps Member supported my growth as a teacher candidate immensely. While it was challenging to lead and manage a classroom with virtually no teaching experience, I was motivated to exceed the expectations. Without support in the classroom itself, I had to quickly learn and implement the skills that my coaches and professors were guiding me with. Although I felt like I failed quite often at first, I learned how to be resilient, respond and implement feedback readily, and think creatively. I learned so much about myself as a person and as a teacher, and figured out how to maneuver unchartered territory with adaptability and grace. I became a much stronger educator and person because of this experience.
NCE: What words of advice do you have to current TFA candidates students just starting in the program?
Samantha: To use a quote that my dad once shared with me, I would tell current TFA candidates that “it can’t rain all the time.” There will be days where you feel like you are sinking, failing miserably, and that every possible thing is going sideways. But, it is these moments that make you grow. If the next day is not better, the next week or the one after will be. Or there will be a moment in your classroom that makes you cry tears of joy or laughter. Enjoy the chaos, and work as hard as you can to make the impact you set out to do. Trust me, it is so worth it.
Original source can be found here.
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