By LaShonda Davis, First Grade Teacher

I teach at Harlem Academy because I have the opportunity to help provide a rich academic experience to students from my community.  Harlem Academy serves a population of many underprivileged children who are challenged daily and consistently rise to the occasion.  Harlem Academy is proof that when students are provided with a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes character development and critical thinking, they are successful.  Teaching at Harlem Academy means being a part of that success.

As a teacher, I am challenged everyday to both learn and teach new things.  The experiences our students bring to our school community are valued and used as the foundation for their learning.  I have the pleasure of fostering students’ curiosity and guiding them through a curriculum that is both demanding and tailored to their needs.  While studying balance and motion in first grade, students began experimenting by rolling marbles and disks down Styrofoam ramps.  They soon got the idea to create a roller coaster.  The excitement spread across the room, and each student began sharing their ideas.  In teams, they sketched and constructed the roller coaster that included many twists, turns, and an upside down loop.  This is just one of many examples of students challenging teachers and each other to learn something new. 

Harlem Academy is a community that understands that learning goes beyond the pages of scripted curricula, and I am proud to be a member of this community.