Diverse Teachers

This blog has been transcribed from an AmeriCorps Great Stories assignment recorded by Gehric Milton, cohort 8, teacher resident graduate of the Educator Academy. It has been formatted to fit a blog written as a reflection. All edits that have been made are for legibility purposes only. 

My name is Gehric Milton, and I am currently a resident at The Educator Academy, a program partnered with AmeriCorps to serve the community surrounding Central Middle School in Kansas City, Missouri. As the winter break approaches, I find myself reflecting on what these past few months of service have meant to me and how they’ve shaped my perspective on education.

Born and raised in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia, I was fortunate to attend schools that were diverse, with teachers from various backgrounds who played a significant role in my development. It wasn’t until I began my service with AmeriCorps that I fully understood the impact of this diversity on my own growth as a person and a student. 

Diverse Teachers Are Crucial for Student Success

When I walked into my first professional development session at Central Middle School and saw that three-quarters of the staff were people of color, I was deeply moved. Seeing such diversity mirrored in the school’s staff, from teachers to administrators, was both eye-opening and inspiring. This experience has highlighted for me the importance of representation in education. There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing yourself reflected in positions of authority and influence, particularly in environments where that has historically not been the case. 

The Role of Social-Emotional Learning

Before joining the Educator Academy, I worked as a lead teacher at a daycare in Lenexa, Kansas, where I spent a significant amount of time focusing on social and emotional learning with my two-year-old students. I found that helping children recognize and articulate their feelings, and understand the causes behind them, was incredibly empowering. This early foundation in emotional intelligence is something I’ve carried with me into my work at Central Middle School, where I continue to see its importance.

At the Educator Academy, social and emotional development is not just a buzzword; it’s a core part of our mission. From our coaches to mentor teachers, everyone is committed to fostering these skills in our students, and we, as residents, are encouraged to carry this mission forward in our interactions with the students. Serving within this community has allowed me to witness firsthand the crucial role that social and emotional development plays in a child’s education.

Building a Stronger School Community

Building empathy, accountability, grace, and kindness in our students is vital to creating a better world, and these values can only be instilled through a strong foundation in social and emotional learning. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and contribute to my students’ growth, not just academically but as whole individuals. It’s an experience that I know will shape my future as an educator and one that I hope will leave a lasting impact on the students I’ve had the privilege to work with.

Gehric’s journey into education has been diverse and rewarding for both him and his students. We are so thankful that Gehric has shared his story with us. 

If you want to learn more about becoming an educator, check out our apply page to see what program would be the best fit for you.