Andrea Walter's Kenan Fellows Program Blog

I don’t want to say good-bye and head back to the real world – and fortunately that’s not what we are doing. For better (and not worse), the virtual nature of the institute meant that all the networking tools we learned during the week will keep us working together.

I’ll remember the GooseChase/iNaturalist activity for the heart-thumping joy of running around the house and yard to find, create, photograph, download, and video the challenges. When my students are looking disconnected or lethargic, such scavenger hunt activities will be pretty easy to plan for or even to run at the spur of the moment. Thanks for all the opportunities to share and have fun. Go TeamB!

Another highlight was the equity/diversity/inclusion work that we engaged in throughout the week. So much thought was put into helping us to recognize the impact of identity on our lives. I especially appreciated the coaching around a situation with a colleague, it helped me to identify where I can have an impact in an oppressive situation. The jigsaw on systemic racism was so informative. That document will be a useful tool for staff development.

Having alumni available throughout the week, experiencing PBL, time to talk with other fellows . . . so many highlights created a stellar summer institute. Thank you.

What I hope to gain from my Kenan Fellowship experience is to grow into my mission to make the educational system work for all students. In particular, I want to bring the real world into the classroom, so that students use their days to meaningfully contribute to their communities and beyond. I hope to reconcile my struggle between standards/testing and inquiry/project/problem-based learning. Students should be able to graduate confident and prepared for adult life, and I am confident that this will happen not through test prep but through real projects.

My internship at Biltmore Farms, focused on sustainable development (residential, hospitality and retail), is a great match for me, because there is a large development project close to our school and student homes. From the internship, I hope to learn about and then propose sustainable development topics for project-based learning, for example, zoning, resource use, LEED-certified development, community involvement, etc. My hope is that students will be able to positively influence the future of our community.

I look forward to listening to the experiences and insights of the other passionate Kenan Fellows. The focus on equity and environmental issues is heart-warming. Already, I feel increased confidence in myself as a teacher-leader.