The positive influence of teachers is lifelong, and rising junior at Montclair State University Rashan Williams can attest to the impact they have had on his life. Rashan is a Dean’s list student and an alum of KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy (NCA). As a mentor with the Boys and Girls Club at KIPP NJ, Rashan modeled his approach on the patient and caring support he received from his teachers at KIPP NCA. Spanish teacher Tamar Reyes-Fernandez stood out.
“I was always the kid that never wanted help,” Rashan said. “I saw asking for help as a weakness. But once I accepted help, it changed my character and my life. My teachers brought me back down to earth and put me in a position where I could evolve myself.”
Rashan transferred to KIPP NCA midyear and had a tough time adjusting to his new school. A self-described rebel, he had a habit of challenging the boundaries of his classmates.
Ms. Reyes-Fernandez never flinched.
“It all started from these one-on-one conversations where both speakers were respected and had a voice,” Rashan recalls. “Ms. Reyes told me she saw something in me. She knew I could become an outstanding student.”
Over 70% of Gen Z says their best teachers are those who care about them as individuals. Ms. Reyes-Fernancez showed that from the beginning.
“They knew I was going to be warm and demanding,” said Ms. Reyes-Fernandez, now assistant principal at KIPP NCA. “I am going to love you and care for you. But I am going to hold you to your higher self because I know you were created for something greater.”
Ms. Reyes-Fernandez started every class with affirmations in Spanish. Everyone – including Rashan – participated. She said it was normal for her to wait until she had 100% participation. While a small act, she knew that prioritizing everyone’s sense of belonging meant that they could focus on learning.
“The teacher-student relationship is key,” she said. “It's important not only in terms of learning but also to provide students with a sense of belonging. A sense of belonging in the classroom is ensuring you don’t give up on your students no matter what. Every student wants to do better, but sometimes they don’t know how. It’s up to us [educators] to show them.”
“My relationship with these teachers gave me the fire to come to school,” Rashan said. “Being a kid who never liked school, I found that they were my purpose to come to school.”
Rashan recently spoke about the influence of teachers like Ms. Reyes-Fernandez at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. He shared a stage with education leaders, including Kaya Henderson, Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute, and hip-hop artist and activist Common. Rashan spoke about wanting to help others like educators did for him.
“I see a lot young kids during school hours. It's a lot of them just out,” he said. “And so for me, [I want to] help those kids find a purpose and happiness to actually want to go to school and stay inside of school … helping the young in my community go to school and stay in school.”
