The 19-20 school year was scary in so many ways, but as the world was coming apart I could still find comfort connecting with others in our hope that soon we would be on the other side of this trauma and we might have grown in the process.
Full Story
The 19-20 school year was scary in so many ways, but as the world was coming apart I could still find comfort connecting with others in our hope that soon we would be on the other side of this trauma and we might have grown in the process. I delved into anti-racist book groups and online learning. My son missed his senior prom and high school graduation ceremony but was surrounded by words of support and condolences. I spent that summer full of uncertainty but excited to improve remote education. That excitement ebbed and flowed through the black boxes of Zoom and finally the return to modified in-person learning. Before I left for summer break in 2021 I was told not to expect returning to school as usual in the fall. Our students missed a lot during the last year in quarantine and it was impacting their social-emotional growth severely. I still came back excited to start the year together. Quickly, I realized my 20 years of teaching high school had not prepared me for the behaviors I was getting in my classroom. Instead of spending my time adjusting my lesson plans to be more equitable and promoting my program to diverse groups, I was talking to teachers about how to teach my classes things they’d always known previously, like how to clean up. I have to admit this is the hardest year I’ve ever had as a teacher. I understand why so many teachers have left the profession. I wanted to share the self-care that has kept me looking forward this year.
Last year, about this time someone encouraged me to apply once again for the CSTA Equity Fellowship. I could hardly imagine adding one more responsibility to my schedule. However, it has turned out to be one of the highlights of my career. In the midst of a pandemic, the fellowship has encouraged me to connect deeply with other teachers and reconnect with myself and my love of teaching.
I don’t have enough positive words to describe how I feel about this fellowship; it’s the best professional development of my career. The program itself has far exceeded my expectations. It’s fun, engaging, useful, organized, and flexible. The diversity of the fellows alone is astounding and creates a wonderful and insightful community where the sharing of ideas and solutions is invigorating. We are modeling, with masterful support and guidance, how to connect with and appreciate our diversity in every meeting. I actually look forward to spending my evenings and Saturdays in meetings with my fellows. Time flies as we learn from other computer science equity experts or work in our small groups on our chosen projects. Learning to be a teacher leader so that I can help support other computer science teachers around the country is exciting, refreshing, and an invaluable skill I will never lose and one that I am looking to improve as the education landscape shifts and changes. This fellowship has been the most positive part of my life this year. If you could use more synergy in your life please consider applying and sharing your unique talents and experiences with the next group of CSTA Equity Fellows*. This fellowship has given me the hope I needed to continue in this challenging career through these challenging times.
*Applications for the next cohort of CSTA Equity Fellows will open in July 2022.
About the Author
Jennifer Styer has been teaching high school STEAM classes in Bellingham, Washington for 18 years. Jenny’s passion for equity began when she came to the realization that being female didn’t improve the diversity in her classroom. Throughout her career, she has attended inclusion and diversity workshops in computer science and participated in anti-racist education and book groups. As a result, she has tried everything from bunnies in the classroom to an all-girls middle school club. She believes that if everyone learns computer science the world will be a better place. Jenny intertwines art and creativity with technology to assist her students in solving problems. When she isn’t teaching, she can be found on horseback or enjoying the outdoors.
