Jack Wilson

My lesson plans are customized to the needs of my students and I use a variety of materials to make learning fun including videos, projects, art, and things that feel relevant to the lives of my students. I always link what we are learning to how it can be used in the real world! I would love to work with you!

In terms of experience, since graduating from Northwestern University in 2016, I have worked with students in many different capacities. My first experience teaching abroad was during a year-long fellowship at Ashram Paryavaran Vidyala, an alternative K-8 school in the rural Himalayan foothills in Uttarakhand, India. The teaching philosophy at APV is focused on fostering a love of learning through positive affirmation and a strong inclusive community. Through the guidance of senior teachers and my own trial and error, I began to grasp how to create relevant, engaging, and dynamic lessons for the students. That year, I learned the impact and value of living abroad and getting to know a culture by immersing myself in a community. The way in which I thrived, despite many challenges, gives me confidence that I will be a great fit for Brewster. After my year at APV, I came back to my hometown, Seattle, and taught first as a chess instructor and later as a lead counselor at two after school programs. Many of the students at Northgate Elementary were in at-risk situations at home. I learned to navigate difficult situations with both students and parents, to arrive at a plan for helping the child.

The University of Washington Secondary Education Teacher Preparation program that I have participated in over the last year has been both challenging and rewarding. For me, the most important part of the rigorous academic work has been learning the foundations for providing students with education that is empowering and gives them an opportunity to learn about the English language in a way that allows for identity exploration and criticality. I have spent the last six months as a student teacher at a high school gaining experience in creating a classroom ecology that is beneficial for students with diverse sets of needs. Since January I have been the primary teacher, implementing my own unit plans, and facilitating an environment where students feel a sense of community and are genuinely excited to come to class each day. A large part of my success has been my excellent mentor teacher who has encouraged collaboration as well as with my own emphasis on building relationships with students based on care, accountability, and mutual respect.