Teacher Feature: Ms. Diggs - Center for Inspired Teaching

Asha Diggs

Hometown: Takoma Park, Maryland
Undergrad & Major: Stockton University, Communication Studies
Favorite Place in DC: Adams Morgan – I love the variety of experiences that exist within the neighborhood.

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I always wanted to be a teacher but I never really understood exactly what that meant until recently. I have worked with kids since I was 16 years old, at summer camps, after school programs, but never in a classroom setting. My first experience working with children in an academic setting was with at risk youth – and we were supposed to serve as a mentor, really pushing them towards specific goals that included college. I was almost turned off to teaching from this experience, because I didn’t like that we were telling kids what they should become, rather than helping them discover what they want to become. I stepped back for a little bit, but then when I discovered Inspired Teaching, I realized it was completely aligned with what I think a teacher should be. The concept of student as expert rather than teacher as expert really resonated with me.

What attracted you to the Inspired Teaching Residency’s model?

I love the freedom of engagement at Inspired Teaching. There is clearly a procedure and method to the madness, but it is also free and liberating at the same time. We don’t read from a script. Instead we’re taught to make the curriculum our own and to co-create a community with our students.

What is something that has surprised you about Summer Institute?

I went in with the idea that it would be me sitting in a traditional classroom, learning about teaching. On the very first day, they said ‘there are no chairs in here, get comfy!’ and I knew this was definitely different than I’d expected. It has been very engaging and I am processing so much. I’m exhausted but exhausted from learning!

When you think about the year ahead, what are you looking forward to focusing on?

I’m excited to get in the classroom and see what I learned this summer put into action. Building relationships is my priority. Building relationships with students and especially building a good relationship with my lead teacher.

Is there a teacher who made a difference in your life?

Absolutely. I have a teacher from High School, Mr. Smith, who I’m still in touch with. He will text me, interested to know what I’m doing these days, and asking for updates on my life. He has been my biggest supporter. When I got a new job, he reached out to ask, ‘what do you need from me?’ I always want to be that kind of a teacher. I want my students to understand that just because I teach you within these walls, doesn’t mean my help can’t extend past them.

Micaiah Anderson

Community Outreach Specialist

As a Community Outreach Specialist, Micaiah is responsible for program promotion and outreach support for Inspired Teaching events and workshops. Micaiah has a passion for collaborating with community members to build-power and connect. She is an educator with a heart for youth and has experience supporting students fight injustices within their schools and communities. She has a BA in Political Science from, the real HU, Hampton University & anticipates graduating in May 2024 with a Masters of Arts degree in Educational Policy Transformation from Georgetown University.

AUTONOMY

"I want to have a say in what happens to me."

Autonomy is the need for independence; the ability to make choices, to create, to explore, and to express oneself freely; to have sufficient space, to move around, and to feel unrestricted with opportunities to exercise free will.

Brady Maiden

Outreach Coordinator

As the Outreach Coordinator, Brady helps maintain Inspired Teaching’s social media presence and supports the organization’s mission to connect with DC community leaders, educators, and parents. Brady has her Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University and her BS in Political Science from Northern Arizona University. She is passionate about community, equity, and coalition building recognizing that learning and growing with the community at large is how we continue to be impactful.

What brings you joy in life?

I find joy in spending time with my friends and family and meeting new people. I like going to concerts and festivals, and finding new books to read.

The Learner’s Cycle, Wonder-Experiment-Learn, and the Teacher’s Cycle, Observe-Plan-Instigate, comprise Inspired Teaching’s approach to engaging students in inquiry-based learning.

When they are engaged in the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, students are immersed in learning. They take the lead in designing authentic learning experiences around their own interests and their school’s standards of learning. Each discovery leads to a new question which in turn leads to more wondering and more learning. In the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, Learn is not a destination or an endpoint; it is a deeper understanding, leading to a deeper wondering and new possibilities that create new entry points to further exploration. The cycle continues because what students have learned generates more wonderings that require more experiments that foster more learning – and on and on.

The Observe-Plan-Instigate Cycle is the work of an Inspired Teacher. While a student is expected to follow the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, the teacher joins them on the learning journey while following their own cycle of Observe-Plan-Instigate. This cycle ultimately serves to ensure an inquiry-based atmosphere is at play in the classroom.

Jaqueta Abbey

Teaching and Learning Specialist

Jaqueta is the Teaching and Learning Specialist for Inspired Teaching. In addition to her current role with Inspired Teaching, Jaqueta is a first-grade teaching assistant. Her background features a variety of traditional and non-traditional experiences in the field of education, including working as an adjunct professor, teaching summer reading programs to children and adults, and tutoring children in the foster care system. Jaqueta earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an M.A. in Interactive Media from Elon University.

What brings you joy in life?

Creative self-expression! In addition to my passion for storytelling, I love dancing of all kinds. I've studied belly dance, bachata, and Brazilian Zouk among other styles. I also enjoy glass fusing, crocheting, photography, and cross stitching. These art forms allow me to express myself and build connections with other people at the same time. I think life would be a lot less vibrant without artists and storytellers!

Michelle Welk

Communication & Marketing Specialist

As Communications and Marketing Specialist, Michelle is responsible for finding and creating new ways to highlight Inspired Teaching and promote its programs in order to expand and deepen the organization's impact. Michelle has worked in communications in an array of settings, from creative agencies to state politics to national nonprofits. She has a BA in Journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia and is passionate about education, access, and equity.

What brings you joy in life?

My son, the beach, making a persuasive argument and good food!

Max Peterson

Real World History Assistant Teacher

Max received his Bachelor’s degree in History and African American Studies from Boston University in May 2016. He has worked in museum curation at the Museum of the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Max has worked with young people of varying ages from young children to young adults transitioning to college.

Feedback and Accountability

We grow through feedback and an understanding that the quality of our work is a reflection of what we are learning, but the shift to remote learning this spring disrupted a lot of the tools teachers were used to using to evaluate student growth. How might we do things differently this fall? Participants in this workshop will explore ways to bring meaningful assessment into the virtual and/or socially-distanced classroom and approaches to student feedback that strengthen motivation, and build relationships and achievement.