School of Education - Spring 2017, Volume 2, Issue 2

NEWS

Volume 2, Issue 2 Spring 2017

“Leading with Your Heart: How Perspective Connects Us” Minnesota Teacher of the Year 2016, Abdul Wright by Tess Kwon On April 12th the SCSU Ignite Center sponsored the session “Leading with Your Heart; How Perspective Connects Us” for district leaders and teachers and SCSU teacher education faculty and staff. The Center is a unique partnership between SCSU and area school districts which works to support and create networks for new teachers, experienced teacher-mentors and students who want to be teachers. This session featured Abdul Wright, recipient of the 2016 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award. He’s the first charter-school teacher to win the award and also the youngest recipient. Previously, he was recognized for “Minneapolis PeaceMaker” award in 2015 and he is a six times recipient of the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School “You’ve Made a Difference” award. Wright described his career as one in which he tried to be a voice for underrepresented populations and to make a difference in those communities. He further addressed the importance of looking beyond the surface to truly understand our teachers and our young people in order to change schools and communities. “When you encounter those moments when you are in a position to teach something to student, then you realize you learn from them, something bigger than state standards and something bigger than what is in the textbook. You learn something about life. Students teach us how to live and carry on our lives as an adult, and eventually how to teach them about school and how to stay as a positive role model for them.”

Passionate Discussion among current & future educators

the classroom and teaching; it’s the key for change in one’s life and it continues to affect one another, and the whole community. Wright has taught English Language Arts for 5 Years at Best Academy in Minneapolis in North Minneapolis. He received a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts and Literature from Corcordia Universtiy-Saint Paul in 2011. He completed the African American Leadership Program and received a Master of Science degree in Education in spring 2016. His session was aimed at those who want to work with students who may be struggling in classrooms and to support them as professionals trying to make a difference.

“And the main key lays in building up a relationship with student” Wright stated. “The foundation of being inspired by one another and being a source of change in one’s life is less about material, but more about what’s from inside; getting to know your student and stay connected from the heart.” As indicated by the title of his presentation, he had a very important message about the “heart” in

Inside this edition

Hooding Ceremony -Page 2

Dean’s Message -Page 3

Teacher Toolbox -Page 3

Honor Society -Page 4

More than 100 area school district leaders and teachers and SCSU teachers education faculty and staff attended the session.

Vera W. Russell

Dessert Fest

MN Superintendent

Special Education Leader Award

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