Our Focus: Meet Anusha Chakraborty, Teacher at Watkins Elementary.

 

“I always wanted to be a teacher. When I was a student at Twain Elementary, this is what I wanted to do – I wanted to be a teacher. Dawn Snapp was one of my teachers at Twain, and she really inspired me to want to become a teacher in my hometown. When I was a student at Kickapoo High School, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and Future Educators helped me accomplish my goal. 

My mom is a professor at Missouri State University, and I’m grateful for everything I learned while there as a student. I feel like my education prepared me for the classroom, but it’s been a learning experience. My instructional coach, my principal, my team, they’re all there for me and help me and my students navigate through challenges and celebrate success. But I also have a whole other support system from Future Educators.

Two years ago, I signed a statement of intent to become a Future Educator at SPS. I was a substitute teacher at the time and was looking for other opportunities to help pay for school, but also, I knew I wanted more experiences and opportunities to dive deeper into teaching and learning strategies. The Saturday Summits were an opportunity for me to really dig into topics I was exploring in class in small groups, where I could explore my experiences with other future educators like me. I had a great toolbox from my MSU classes, but I added to it with specific sessions and topics that are directly applicable to me as a teacher at SPS with other early career teachers like me. Now, those Future Educator teachers are in my group text, navigating what it’s like to be a first-year teacher. We’re here for each other, and we’re here for our students.

In Future Educators, I also gained so many dedicated mentors and cheerleaders at SPS who want me to succeed. My teacher at Twain, Ms. Snapp, actually became my mentor and guided me through the entire process of being a teacher. It is so special to have a teacher who taught me in elementary school cheering me on as I pursued a job at SPS, but now, she’s also cheering me on as I navigate my first year. That’s so, so special to me, and it’s a real-time reminder of the impact teachers have on their students for a lifetime.

As a student, I remember how special it was to see a teacher who looked like me, to see my name on the board, to have people in books in my classroom who looked like me. Future Educators helped me discover the impact I want to make as a teacher of color, as well as how to connect with students of different backgrounds. I want to make a difference and connect with my students as Ms. Anusha. 

Now, I’m a Kickapoo grad, a teacher at Watkins and a Kickapoo High School speech and debate coach, and my Future Educators team keeps cheering me on. Michelle Gavel, dropped off supplies for my classroom. Terry Campbell, helped me set up my room. These are people in my network who are supporting me as I navigate through my first year of teaching and beyond. I always wanted to be a teacher, and I’m so proud to be one at SPS.”