Meg Johnson learned two things from one of her first jobs: that she didn’t want an office job and that she loved the world of education.
Twenty years later, she is the Schoolwide Enrichment Teacher in the Byram Hills School District, working with 500 students in grades 3 – 5. If all goes according to plan, Meg has one more chapter to her career and hopes to find herself back on a college campus.
Describe what a typical day looks like for you.
My mornings start with coffee! We greet the students in the hallway as they enter the building excited for each day and get straight to work. In my school, all students are exposed to enrichment classes, which are designed to encourage learners to apply their personal skills to tackle problems, to inspire the students to engage in collaborative, investigative study, and stretch their imaginations. First period is 4th grade Tessellations, second period is 5th grade Energy and Take Action, and 3rd period is a maker space, for hands-on learning and exploring.
My afternoons consist of pullout enrichment classes working with small groups of advanced learning students on accelerated curriculum, which I write. I also create Google Classrooms full of resources for students to work on their independent projects and they actually write their own inquiry units of study. Most of my prep time is spent finding resources for student inquiry.
What educational qualifications did you pursue that were critical for you in this role?
I received a Bachelors in Early Elementary Education and a Masters in Special Education. Every day is another day of learning. I had six years of classroom experience before moving into enrichment.
What inspired you to pursue a role in education?
I knew early on that I wanted to be actively learning throughout my day. I held a small secretarial job while in college and found myself looking at the clock just waiting for 5pm to roll around. I knew I didn’t want to spend my life like that. I also loved the college campus during my Masters work at the College of New Rochelle. This led me to elementary education. One day I hope to find myself back living in a college town and being a college professor.
What do you know today that you wish you had known during your first year of teaching?
I wish I started in a public school right away. It was very difficult to find a job when I began teaching and so I chose to work in a private school. Private schools do not accrue towards your NYS pension.
What characteristics of your students do you appreciate the most?
I appreciate their enthusiasm, dedication, and genuine concern for their learning and acceptance of challenges when faced. It is fascinating working with advanced learners: the key is being accepting and open to each individual’s thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, and strengths.
What do you enjoy most about being an enrichment teacher?
I enjoy the creativity and freedom I´m given to write the curriculum and discover what topics will most excite my students. I’m inspired by my students’ interests, the curriculum they are studying in their regular classroom, non-fiction articles (Smithsonian Magazine is a favorite), and current events.
What aspects of being an enrichment teacher do you find to be the most enjoyable? How do you motivate students to become active learners?
I enjoy being with my students and working with their teachers to best meet each child’s needs. In order to motivate my students I give them a lot of freedom to ask questions and opportunities to construct their own understanding through active research.
What aspects of your job are the most challenging?
The stress most frequently addressed is challenging students to add details and resources to their work. Advanced learners enjoy a broad range of learning. Encouraging them to go back to add specific details can be a monotonous challenge for them.
What is your teaching philosophy?
That’s changed over the last 20 years. At this point, my philosophy is to immerse students in global topics of interest and provide opportunities for authentic self-motivated constructivist learning.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing educators today?
Preparing students for an uncertain future. Students need skills to problem solve and general knowledge in order to approach those problems.
What advice would you give a high school or college student considering a similar career path?
Spend time in a classroom as much as possible and find a good mentor. For those preparing to start a career in education: Network and spend time in the classroom. Keep up on current events and non-fiction articles of interest. Smithsonian and National Geographic are great resources to improve your own general knowledge.
Can you recommend strategies or techniques for teachers who are striving to be lifelong learners?
Keep on reading and enjoy nonfiction documentaries. The more you know, the more you know, and the more confident you will be.
