While most of Seaholm teachers will essentially have the same lesson plan for the next school year, one teacher is coming back with the experience of an Ivy League school.
Robin Moten, a member of Seaholm’s Flex team, took the 2009-10 school year off to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Before deciding on Harvard, Moten did consider other schools, including local universities.
“I did look into local schools and I really liked Eastern [Michigan’s] educational psychology program,” Moten said. “So in the end it boiled down to Eastern, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard.”
With her top three schools in mind, there was one thing in particular that finalized Moten’s decision.
“Only Harvard offered the chance to catch a Red Sox game at Fenway,” Moten said. “So my decision became much easier.”
Moten will be obtaining an Ed.M from Harvard in May.
“My specific program is Human Development and Psychology,” Moten said. “My emphasis has been adolescent development.”
With a higher level of education, Moten plans use what she’s learned in her classes next year.
“In Leadership Seminar I'll be using a case study approach for a part of a unit,” Moten said. “If I teach Non-fiction American Literature again I'll take a look at using memoirs a little more.”
Along with new teaching methods, Moten says that Harvard gave her insight that she feels will help with the betterment of her students.
“I'm even more committed to the idea of social justice and youth organizing, and for that I'm grateful for my experiences at Harvard,” Moten said.
Equally inspiring, Moten said, are her students.
“I'm even more grateful to Jake Drutchas, Josh Schaefer, Eric Deacon and the other current seniors I got a chance to collaborate with last year for teaching me the really amazing things students can accomplish when they are inspired,” Moten said.
In the past, Moten taught film theory, non-fiction American literature, and Seaholm’s Flex program.
Though tentative schedules for teaching next year won’t be released until late March, Moten is excited about continuing with the Leadership seminar.
“This will be year four for the class and I’m excited about the new things we’ll be doing next year,” Moten said. “First we will be partnering with Arise! Detroit and the Marcus Gavey Academy on creating a sustainable [vegetable garden] with the 4th graders at that Detroit Public School.”
