Earline Bresil is in her first full year as a member of People’s Prep’s science department. In this month’s Wolfpack Voices, Earline shares her experience of being a new teacher during the pandemic and what inspired her to become a science teacher.
What made you want to teach in Newark?
I realized while I was in college that I never had a Black female science teacher until I was in my late 20s. I walked in the lab and I was taken aback when I saw her, and I realized that was the first time I ever saw a woman who looked like me teaching a science course. I knew I wanted to teach students who could see themselves in me. That was always very important to me.
I wanted to teach at People’s Prep specifically because our Dean of Curriculum and Instruction led workshops for aspiring teachers when I was at NJCU. His presentations were always very streamlined and easy to follow. When I came to PPCS and saw that all of the school’s professional development was handled in the same way, I realized it was a mold.
If I’m being honest, I never really thought I would want to work at a charter school. I had always been told that the best schools’ numbers looked the way they did because they were choosing their students. But when I saw the work behind statistics for myself, and saw the mission that all of our students will be able to go to the college of their choice, I became more impressed. Because everything is data driven, I appreciate that we are able to see the numbers for ourselves and follow the trends as teachers.
What inspired you to study science and teach it?
Science has always been interesting to me. I think science is the number one subject that revolves around how we are made and how we exist in this world. I think the best way to reach a student is to show them facts and figures that relate to their existence.
What is it like being a first year teacher at People’s Prep?
People’s Prep expects a lot but prepares you to meet those expectations. While teaching during a pandemic has been exhausting, I feel very grateful for spending my first year ever teaching at People’s Prep. I don’t think I would have better equipped teaching anywhere else.
What kind of supports have you received both while we have been in-person and remote?
Having a coach has been the number one best support that I’ve received. Last year, my coach would meet with me almost every day to go over lessons, deliverables, and grading. I’d never heard of a coach who was willing to help you grade. That’s not just because my coach was a kind-hearted individual, it’s part of the culture of People’s Prep.
There are also virtual weekly professional development and morning practice clinics that teach me exactly what I need to say and how I need to say it in order to communicate expectations to students. All of it helps me feel really well-equipped to give my students what they need to be successful.