Beth Worthy
7/10/2024
We are excited to announce the Summer winner of our $500 academic scholarship, Niah McCoy, a student at Temple University. Learn more about his proudest achievements and academic and career goals.
My interest in a career in education dates back to my years as a student in Philly public schools. In middle and high school, I excelled in every subject and was a member of the National Honor Society. I was also a peer tutor in high school. During my senior year in high school, I took two freshman English courses at a local university and earned an A in both.
I have always had an adoration for learning and helping people. I was indecisive on whether I should pursue a career helping children or adults. For me to do either, it was most logical to pursue a career in education.
During my undergraduate studies, I was exposed to a full range of education courses at Temple University which included being coached by Dr. Peters. I have also had the opportunity to take courses in African-American Studies which have provided me with a better perspective and knowledge for teaching in the inner city. While student teaching during my field experience, I was placed at Pennypacker Elementary in the northwest region of Philadelphia. Pennypacker became my home.
My cooperating teacher became my mentor for my entire career. Due to her coaching, I have learned how to build rapport and form trusting relationships with colleagues, staff, students, and parents. This has helped me mentor student teachers later in my career. All of which has solidified my interest and investment in urban education.
One of my most meaningful achievements is that I’m in my fifteenth year of teaching as an elementary school teacher. I currently teach second grade at the same school where I began my career. I also tutor students three days a week at the local library. I am honored to say that I have been a teacher and mentor to many students- some of which have great success stories like being accepted to Ivy League schools for college. I have long-lasting relationships with many former parents of students that I have taught.
I would like to use my educational experience to influence a positive change in a leadership role such as an assistant principal or principal. Coming from a teaching background, my classroom experience has helped me develop the skills needed to positively influence the academic environment. Becoming an instructional leader would help me to implement successful systems for academic progress for students. It would also allow me to build the capacity of the teachers in order to develop and strengthen their classroom management and pedagogy to better serve our youth.
Being in a leadership role would further the opportunity to build culture and climate within the school as a whole. Schools cannot just focus on academics. In today’s society, children come to school with so much baggage and trauma. As a school community, we have to address their social and emotional needs as well. To start, every teacher needs to start the day with a student check-in and teach social-emotional learning (SEL).
Teachers also need to develop secure, respectful, and reciprocal relationships with their students. The school needs to be a safe place that promotes family-school partnerships.
My personal goal is to help create a school community that far exceeds the instructional and cultural expectations set. In my experience as a school leader, I have and continue to impact student learning by meeting with professional learning communities regularly to gather and analyze data to provide purposeful, informed staff development based on the information collected. Co-teaching lessons, modeling practices such as number sense routines, and monitoring the Blended Learning implementation at the school have impacted student learning.
Modeling BEST instructional practices for teachers helps to ensure that students are being exposed to information that assists them in constructing further knowledge with the intent to apply it. Evaluating and tracking student performances also helps to impact their overall learning by assessing their conceptual understanding and ability to apply it to real-life situations.
Interested in applying to our scholarship? Learn more about our requirements and apply today.
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