Thomas Gaffey and Elizabeth Harvey
Recorded
July 28, 2011
41:07 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
dda001105
Description
Friends and Colleagues, Thomas Gaffey (29) and Elizabeth Harvey (35), talk about their careers as educators and how they decided to become teachers. They both work at the School of the Future in Philadelphia.Subject Log / Time Code
TG and EH work well together. TG likes to think about things in the big picture and EH is more realistic and step-by-step. EH likes TG's passion for teaching..
TG always liked teaching, but never thought he would become a teacher. In high school, TG was a math tutor. In college, TG studied engineering and philosophy. One of TG's professors had some much passion for changing how students thought and this inspired TG to think about teaching. TG realized that all of the things he had done before led connecting with his interest in teaching.
EH decided she wanted to be a teacher in 8th grade. In math class that year, she helped a student explain a question and understand the answer. The "eureka" moment the other student had made EH excited. EH majored in science in college and then taught through the 180 days program in Springfield, MA.
EH thought she would only teach for 5 - 10 years at first because she thought she would lose her passion and excitement after that. But she has discovered new things to get excited about and get better at each year. EH has had two very hard school years when she thought she wasn't a good teacher. Now, EH is teaching less and doing more administrative and training work. She likes the work, but also likes teaching one or two periods as well.
It was hard for people to understand why TG decided to become a teacher instead of an engineer. It's hard for TG to explain, but when he is teaching, he feels in his element and at his most passionate. Helping students to have the "aha" moment is what TG tries to do. He wants students to feel good about learning.
Something surprising about teaching for TG was that the kids were really excited about learning, especially relative to adults he interacted with. It is really hard for administrators and teachers to change. EH has been surprised to find the ability for continued improvement in her teaching practice.
Helping students find their passion is the most important thing. TG taught a robotics class, and one student, Jade, wasn't very interested at first. But as soon as she got a drill in her hands and was building something, she found her element and loved the class.
One of EH's 9th grade students mentioned EH during her senior project presentation. She was inspired by EH's environmental science class and started recycling at home.
EH has seen the "pendulum of reform" swing back and forth in her teaching career. EH's ideal school would allow individual teachers to find their balance between the extremes. EH's current school, the School of the Future, is the best school she has taught at.
In TG's ideal school, students would be taught that learning is not for something in the future, but rather for the now. TG wants young people to know that they have an ability to change things and do things in the present. TG wants students to impact the world in a real way in the present.
Participants
- Thomas Gaffey
- Elizabeth Harvey