Teacher Development and Mentoring

Currently, I provide support to middle-school teachers who are piloting the Smithsonian Learning Lab in their classrooms and schools. In this new capacity, I use many of the skills I learned when I worked as a mentor for pre-service teachers in the Duke MAT program and the University of North Carolina's MAT program from 2007 until my move in 2015. It was one of the most rewarding aspects of my career--giving me an opportunity to reflect on my own teaching practices while helping guide new teachers through their first moments in the classroom. This letter from Alan Teasley, former director of the Duke MAT program, speaks to these experiences. 

In addition, I worked as a mentor to first through fourth-year teachers at my former school, to help them navigate new teaching environments, reflect upon their lessons, and provide instructional support when necessary. 

Finally, I presented two workshops to colleagues across the district on the use of primary sources in developing literacy (at the Durham Public School system's Summer Institute, as well as made several presentations to colleagues on incorporating writing into the Social Studies and teaching the Civil War. I am continuing this work as I help develop the professional development sessions that are part of the Smithsonian Learning Lab experience.