*Teacher: English Language Arts*
By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee
May 26, 2021
Mrs. Jaclyn Ralph was chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight. Mrs. Ralph is a grade seven, ELA teacher here at Brooklyn. First, she is known for her fun yet educational ways of teaching. Secondly, she has an extremely-kind personality. Third, she always motivates her students to stay on-task and to stay attentive when learning new content. Finally, along the way, her students might even learn a few organizational skills because she excels in this category.
Q: How has being a teacher impacted your life?
A: “I am lucky to work with such an incredibly-supportive group of educators who truly care about their students and one another. We celebrate each other’s happy moments and support each other through the hard times, too, both professionally and personally. I know that if I need help with a lesson, a strategy to help a student be more successful in my class, or just an ear to listen to me vent, my fellow Brooklyn teachers will be there for me.”
Q: How do you overcome a situation that has you feeling down?
A: “When I am feeling down, I love to put on my favorite music and distract myself. It’s hard to be upset when your favorite song is playing! I find that usually when I have had time to step away from a situation and then come back to the problem, it often isn’t as bad as I first thought.”
Q: What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
A: “I don’t know if it counts as being brave but beating stage four cancer was definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done!”
Q: What do you like most about being a teacher?
A: “There are many great things about being a teacher, but the top things that come to my mind are these: I like that no two days are ever the same, I love when a student has a great day and is excited to tell me about it, and I always enjoy hearing what my former students are doing in their lives after they leave me.”
Q: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
A: “There’s always something to be grateful for in your life.”
Q: How do you think you have impacted your students?
A: “I HOPE I have given them a space where they feel safe being themselves and where they know they are cared about. If a student has found a book they enjoyed in my class when previously they ‘hated’ reading, that is a bonus!”
Q: Have you ever considered a different career path?
A: “If I wasn’t a teacher, I would love to help people organize and declutter their homes.”
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: “I enjoy reading, swimming, baking, and watching British TV shows like Downton Abbey.”
Thank you Mrs. Ralph for taking the time to respond to these questions. We are so fortunate to have you back with us in Brooklyn! We love the fight inside of you, and we cherish the memories from your class.
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 