Urban Superstar-Teachers Are The Reason Things Change in Inner-city Schools

Urban Teachers are the Superstars of the city!  I enjoyed my college experience, but my preparation programs didn’t really prepare me for what happens in urban schools.  The constant drudgery included paperwork, policies, meetings, inadequate materials, large classes, and ongoing push for better test scores. These are enough concerns to drive anyone crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  In my first years of teaching, I was able to engage learners by building trust, while transforming the elementary school curriculum. I wasn’t afraid to challenge policy along the way.  I am an urban city, superstar-educator and I love my school community.

Urban Teacher Ideology

In my college experience; lesson planning, adhering to policies, and following existing curriculum was standard.  However, that changed when I had my "on the job training."  I knew, when I was immersed in the school culture and society, that I was directly responsible for the impact I had on the students and their families.  This shift, led me to transform the curriculum and to re-define our current discipline policy.  Of course, I also had to connect directly to the community, while collaborating with fellow teachers who were doing the same.  Yes, it was daunting at times, but my fellow teachers kept me motivated.  This was a shift in thinking and challenging administration was sometimes necessary, but I knew it was for a greater purpose.

Transforming the Curriculum

I would always find various ways to extend textbook learning onto practical experiences for my students.  I did this by creating activities that extended our school curriculum themes.  One time, I brought in a dancer that answered questions, taught us a few dances, and later, we embarked on a field-trip, by walking, to a local dance studio where she performed.  Although the walking field-trip was somewhat tricky to pull-off, I was able get support and help from the community, to get this done.  Another way I was able to extend the curriculum, was to take the special interest of the students, harness it, and create a club solely around their topic of choice.  One time, I was able to get a local musician to come to the school.  I had cornered him at his last gig near the bathroom and asked if he would come to our school. With a little work, we were able to have him help us create an after school music program for students who were interested in guitar lessons.  Other teachers got involved; Who knew that we had so many talented teacher musicians on campus.  Everyone that participated received a stipend to teach music during their week of commitment.  It was only for an hour after school but parents would volunteer, individual student behavior changed, and our school performances took on a life of their own.  Igniting activism for the community was, undoubtedly, also a value.  One thing that I included, often, was the consistent immersion of extraordinary urban leaders and local activists who were inspired artists, athletes, thinkers, and academics.  It took a little research on my part to find and identify people who would inspire the youth. But on countless occasions, I found middle school alumni and college students with a knowledge of the community, who were honored to come back and connect.

Red Tape Bureaucracy

I am not saying that everything always went well. But as an urban teacher, you start to understand that school bureaucracies are ongoing and typical of school growth.  Many times, I would do the deed first then, ask for forgiveness; it became my motto.  However, I always prioritized the needs of my students and the community before making any decision.  In most instances, I had to pick and choose the battles to fight. Overall, my push to question administration and school policies helped redefine boundaries. It made school-learning with the community a true partnership, transforming the school into a better place for learning.Written by ~Educational Innovation 360Resources:The Function of Star Teachers- https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781351757560/chapters/10.4324%2F9781315193267-10Issues around Inner City Teachers- https://work.chron.com/issues-around-becoming-inner-city-teacher-12763.htmlCut the Red Tape- https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/1990/02/01/5allen.h01.html