Bianca was especially appreciative of L&C’s emphasis on interdisciplinary instruction and the focus on embedding teaching for social justice in content areas one wouldn’t immediately think of, like math and science.
What three words would you use to describe Lewis & Clark?
Relationships, Inquiry, Application
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
Growing up in Portland, I knew that I wanted to build my post-grad life here. Of the master of arts in teaching (MAT) programs in the city, Lewis & Clark was my top choice for a multitude of reasons, but primarily because the student-teaching practicum was a full year in the same classroom.
What have you been doing since graduation?
Teaching! I was an elementary classroom teacher in an IB school for my first seven years, mostly second grade. This year I became an instructional coach, supporting teachers with curriculum and instruction through leading PD in staff meetings, facilitating PLCs, coplanning, modeling lessons, and just generally hanging out in their classrooms whenever I can.
How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for your career? How does your social justice education apply?
I felt like the instructors were incredibly realistic about what was ideal vs. practical in terms of planning, prepping, and teaching to every content area that is covered at the elementary level. As such, I was especially appreciative of the emphasis on interdisciplinary instruction and the focus on embedding teaching for social justice in content areas you wouldn’t immediately think of, like math and science.
What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?
Classroom management, time management, and organization. If you don’t have those things down, it doesn’t matter how well you know your content or your curriculum.
How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?
Relationships! Despite having graduated eight years ago, the professors continue to be responsive resources who I still reach out to for random things here and there. I also get coffee with my mentor teacher every summer and winter break, and am close friends with a handful of the people from my cohort, which is doubly beneficial because we still problem solve job-related struggles, swap strategies, and share tons of digital tools we create.
What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?
That is an incredibly tough call between Teri Tilley’s Classroom Management and Linda Griffin’s Math classes. Both professors were phenomenal: experts at their craft, supportive, and engaging. Plus they always had an answer to the questions or hypotheticals we came up with.
What unique perspective did you bring to your cohort?
Having a shared experience with a small group of people made everything more manageable because everyone was doing what you were doing. It’s essentially like having a really strong grade-level team when you’re teaching, you can divide and conquer.
What was your favorite spot on campus?
The reflecting pool. One of my best friends (from the program) even got married there a year or two after!
What is your favorite thing about living in Portland?
The fact that we have all four seasons and get to experience them fully and, in a similar vein, having such quick access to so many different geographical spaces—the coast, mountains, forest, and desert are all only 1-3 hours away by car.
