NJ Alternate Route Teacher Preparation Graduate Turned Teacher Leader—Darci Sosa

In this month’s Alternate Route Champion Spotlight, we interviewed Darci Sosa, a graduate of an alternate route program offered through the NJ Department of Education. Not only has she blossomed into a high performing teacher, but she now also dedicates her time to helping other aspiring and novice teachers develop professional competency as an instructor with Rutgers CESP’s Alternate Route Teacher Training program.

Here’s how a NJ alternate route program and Teach For America’s teacher development program put Sosa on the path to becoming a teacher:

Discuss your original career vision and what ignited your interest in teaching?

I always wanted to teach. I grew up in a district with AMAZING faculty. I had 13 years of awesome educators. By the time I was in high school I knew this was not the case for everyone. When I was in college, I knew I wanted to teach in areas where kids didn't always have great teachers. I also had no idea how I was gonna make that happen, I just felt it was my way of paying forward what I had received through my public schools. At the end of my senior year of college, I heard about Teach for America. To me, TFA was a means to do what I always wanted to do.

How did your Teach For America training align with the support provided by the NJ Alternate Route program?

I took NJ Alternate Route courses from Sept 1993-June 1994. As a college freshman all I took was an education course on adolescents so I wasn’t very familiar with the education system or with pedagogy when I enrolled. That year Teach For America had its own teacher-training model that we were required to participate in, while simultaneously taking the state courses. The TFA program was very demanding. During that time, I learned that I should always be reflective and stay current. I’m now always evaluating the challenges I face and thinking of how to alleviate them.

Which elements of the program had the greatest impact on you?

There were a couple of A-ha moments I had during my alternate route training. Interacting with such a large group of teachers really enhanced my cultural perspective. I also read a lot on why teachers shouldn’t rely on lecture style teaching, and saw how hard it was for veteran teachers to shift their teaching styles.

I now teach with the Rutgers CESP Alternate Route Teacher Training program, and make a point of having my lessons be interactive. I try to do lots of Q&A and mix things up by sometimes having the class collaborate on assignments,  work together to solve problems, experience gallery walks or even play games.

What tools do you use to advance your professional learning ?

I believe healthy humans have to continue learning and growing or they die cognitively.

Some of the resources I use are Twitter, friends, NSTA, ASCD, FEA, ISTE, NESTA, Novemberlearning, Google, KhanAcademy, Google+, WholeBrainTeaching.com, and Loveandlogic.com. I also participate in professional organizations like NSTA, ASCD, FEA, ISTE and NESTA,

I enjoy learning. If I could afford it, I would be a professional student, but that doesn't pay the bills. I see my professional development pay off everytime I try something I learned in professional development sessions and witness students responding with better learning or engagement. Sometimes the sessions can also be more about me— how I respond to students, or how I am able to address their questions. With each session my knowledge increases.

How do you know that you’re an effective educator?

In the classroom, moments like this one make me most proud and certain that I’m effectively impacting my kids:

At the end of the year, I ask students to write letters to the incoming class about how I am as a teacher and "what it's like to 'live' with me for a year." One student I had early in my teaching career lost his mother during the year, and so became the head of his house in all practical matters. He also was routinely in trouble. I had gone to the principal many times that year and cried to him that I wasn't making any progress with this student.

His letter at the end of the year said it all: "Dear students, Ms. Erickson [now Mrs. Sosa] has a lot to teach you if you're willing to learn...she taught me to have respect for adults. That's something I didn't have before..."

As an instructor for Rutgers CESP’s Alternate Route Teacher Training program, I know my teaching is effective when our candidates synthesize the materials I’ve taught and make it their own.

What advice would you give to candidates in alternate route teacher preparation programs?

GET ON TWITTER. If you're already on Twitter personally, set up a separate, professional Twitter account; find chats and follow people who are making progress happen in education. Participate in conferences, chats, blog, and become one of the people creating change in education.

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There are certain skills that teachers learn through personal experience, and, if they’re lucky, the experience of others! What other questions would you like alumni of alternate route teacher programs to answer? Share your suggestions in the comments below.