• Posted on Jan 17, 2024

🎊 𝐈’𝐦 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 1/13/2024!

This March will mark my two-year anniversary as a Sociology instructor at Montgomery College! It continues to be a joy to mentor students into being the next generation of inter-culturally competent and ethical critical thinkers.

During my service as a Sociology instructor, I’ve taught in three different mediums: (1) In person on the Takoma/Silver Spring campus, (2) 100% remotely, and (3) in their innovative “Early College/Dual Enrollment” program that provides Montgomery County public school students an opportunity to experience college level courses.

Like it or not – teaching high school students in the Early College/Dual Enrollment is VERY different than teaching traditional college students. More different than I expected!

When I taught my first college course at a local high school – I experienced culture shock. I questioned myself… “Can I really do this?” and “Am I the right person for these students?”

Through trial, error, and taking charge of my own learning around the matter – I feel like Stella who got her groove back.

Though our learning objectives should stay the same regardless of who we’re teaching, the way in which we teach those learning objections can be different. Once I leaned into that – not only did my confidence teaching in the Early College/Dual Enrollment skyrocket, but my students became more engaged and enthusiastic in class.

Despite already having 5 years of college teaching under my belt before joining Montgomery College, I’ve learned so much. I know that what I’ve learned will help other faculty who are teaching in the Early College/Dual Enrollment program.

Tomorrow, I’m honored to be teaching a session at the Dr. Antonio Thomas Spring 2024 Part-time Faculty Professional Development Conference. Below are details about my presentation.

In 2021, I quit my 6-figure federal job to free up time to (1) complete a seminary internship for $15 an hour as a part of a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies (MALS) and (2) be more available for my elderly parents who we were caring for at home.

By the time I finished my 2nd master’s degree in 2022 and seminary internship…we had moved my parents to a wonderful senior living home. They receive excellent care.

It’s at that moment where I looked up at my situation and asked myself – “What type of work could I pursue that would make my heart sing?”

Teaching College!

I taught college many years ago but left after my second child was born. It was too much to teach night classes while nursing/pumping milk and working FT during the day. But boy did I LOVE teaching college. When I left, like The Terminator – I always knew I’d be back. 😎

Montgomery College was my first-choice because of their outstanding reputation, authentic prioritization of inclusivity, and proximity to my home.

Since teaching my first class at Montgomery College, I have taken on full and part time work and projects. I continued to serve in my private practice ministries. But I have mostly kept up with teaching at least 1 class a semester. Next semester I’m teaching three classes. I teach because it brings me JOY.

I hope that when you have a career transition and look around and inside yourself – you ask, “What type of work could I pursue that would make my heart sing?” that you go DO that thing! Pursue what brings you joy!

I’m looking forward to teaching this session at the conference. I hope that not only do YOU pursue what bring you joy, but that you find a way to leverage your joy – to give back to others.

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💜 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗘𝗯𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗖. 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 💜

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