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| Shaun Mitchell, Rocking the Documentary |
I also stopped by Central High School. Teach Shaun Mitchell, who I co-nominatd for the O'Toole Teacher Leadership Award with Marge Hiller, was being taped by a film crew from Boston. He was chosen as a winner and the filmographers wanted to capture his voice, the voices of students, his principal's voice, and my voice as part of the festivity.
I wrote down what I wanted to say, but they said, 'Tsk Tsk' - no notes, go from the heart. So that's what I did (but I'm hoping I said the following.
• How is Shaun an advocate for student-centered learning?
Shaun Mitchell is an advocate for young people, making him a champion for student-centered learning, too. Several years ago, Shaun enacted a playwriting festival for his students at Central High School. He modeled playwriting for his students, then sent their drafts to be workshopped with graduate students at Fairfield University. The student writers then took the feedback and revised their scripts and ten-minute plays. Months later, Shaun Mitchell produced a festival of their writing, where his drama club performed student-written scripts and placed youth voices on the stage. It was remarkable to witness. He is the type of educator who reshapes curriculum to fit the needs of kids rather than force kids to meet the needs of curriculum.
• How would you describe Shaun as an educator? What traits does he have?
Shaun Mitchell excels as an educator because he has vision. It is not only important to him that his students meet class objectives, but that they become lifelong readers and writers. He wants them to see that knowledge transcends the boundaries set by schools. His theatrical wit, passion for laughter, and drive to celebrate urban youth and their stories is at the forefront. For these reasons, I’ve hired him every summer through Connecticut Writing Project-Fairfield to share expertise with young people from all across the state. As a visionary, in fact, Shaun helped establish a young adult literacy lab called Project Citizen, which offers young people an opportunity to take action with their ideas and opinions. It has been a tremendous hit, so much so that educators across the nation are following his lead. They want to learn from him about advocating democratic practices in their own classrooms.
• If you were to walk into Shaun’s classroom, what would it look like? What would look different from a traditional classroom?
When I think of Shaun’s classroom, I recall the days he taught in Central High School’s auditorium. In such a setting, he was able to use the stage for performance and to encourage young people to become active with their learning. As a lover of improvisation, Shaun asked his students to make literature come alive. As kids read from anthologies of African American literature or deconstructed poetry he copied for them, the one trait that became most obvious was the bodily-kinesthetic interaction inhabited by the class. They were out of their seats, moving, collaborating with one another, enjoying themselves and very much alive with their learning.
• Why is Shaun deserving of an O’Toole Award?
Mr. Mitchell deserves an O’Toole award because he takes his teaching practices beyond the classroom and demonstrates his leadership not only at his school, but for his district, for educators all across Connecticut, and on a National level. This November, in fact, Shaun will be presenting several times during the National Writing Project and National Council of Teacher conferences, especially on his youth advocacy work. He will present a chapter he co-authored with several educators involved with an LRNG Innovation Grant Challenge Award, about his leadership of designing summer writing opportunities with Connecticut youth, and on the
Shaun Mitchell is an advocate for young people, making him a champion for student-centered learning, too. Several years ago, Shaun enacted a playwriting festival for his students at Central High School. He modeled playwriting for his students, then sent their drafts to be workshopped with graduate students at Fairfield University. The student writers then took the feedback and revised their scripts and ten-minute plays. Months later, Shaun Mitchell produced a festival of their writing, where his drama club performed student-written scripts and placed youth voices on the stage. It was remarkable to witness. He is the type of educator who reshapes curriculum to fit the needs of kids rather than force kids to meet the needs of curriculum.
• How would you describe Shaun as an educator? What traits does he have?
Shaun Mitchell excels as an educator because he has vision. It is not only important to him that his students meet class objectives, but that they become lifelong readers and writers. He wants them to see that knowledge transcends the boundaries set by schools. His theatrical wit, passion for laughter, and drive to celebrate urban youth and their stories is at the forefront. For these reasons, I’ve hired him every summer through Connecticut Writing Project-Fairfield to share expertise with young people from all across the state. As a visionary, in fact, Shaun helped establish a young adult literacy lab called Project Citizen, which offers young people an opportunity to take action with their ideas and opinions. It has been a tremendous hit, so much so that educators across the nation are following his lead. They want to learn from him about advocating democratic practices in their own classrooms.
• If you were to walk into Shaun’s classroom, what would it look like? What would look different from a traditional classroom?
When I think of Shaun’s classroom, I recall the days he taught in Central High School’s auditorium. In such a setting, he was able to use the stage for performance and to encourage young people to become active with their learning. As a lover of improvisation, Shaun asked his students to make literature come alive. As kids read from anthologies of African American literature or deconstructed poetry he copied for them, the one trait that became most obvious was the bodily-kinesthetic interaction inhabited by the class. They were out of their seats, moving, collaborating with one another, enjoying themselves and very much alive with their learning.
• Why is Shaun deserving of an O’Toole Award?
Mr. Mitchell deserves an O’Toole award because he takes his teaching practices beyond the classroom and demonstrates his leadership not only at his school, but for his district, for educators all across Connecticut, and on a National level. This November, in fact, Shaun will be presenting several times during the National Writing Project and National Council of Teacher conferences, especially on his youth advocacy work. He will present a chapter he co-authored with several educators involved with an LRNG Innovation Grant Challenge Award, about his leadership of designing summer writing opportunities with Connecticut youth, and on the
importance of publishing teacher and student writing. He is a champion of the profession and his
actions speak louder than words.
• How would you describe Shaun in three words?
Whimsical, Theatrical, & Brilliant.
I just hope I didn't get too Jim Carey with my faces while I had my say. I'm sure I did, but I hope they edit all that out. Shaun, on the other hand, was spectacular. It was a National Writing Project love-fest, the way it should always be.
• How would you describe Shaun in three words?
Whimsical, Theatrical, & Brilliant.
I just hope I didn't get too Jim Carey with my faces while I had my say. I'm sure I did, but I hope they edit all that out. Shaun, on the other hand, was spectacular. It was a National Writing Project love-fest, the way it should always be.
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