Q&A by David Hoffman
In the College of Education & Human Development’s CREATE teacher residency program, social studies education master’s student Shamandi Clark (M.S. ’24) has learned some key features of being an educator: Reflecting on your teaching practices, showing compassion for your students and creating a safe classroom environment.
In this Q&A, Clark reflects on her time at Georgia State University and how she’ll apply what she’s learned in her master’s program to her career.
Q: What made you choose to earn your degree at Georgia State?
A: “I’ve been a city girl since a young age, when I would ask my mom to drive me through the bustling community and bright lights. I knew that the university would offer me opportunities to meet tons of people and garner the confidence to teach in urban educational spaces. It did just that!”
Q: What related activities did you participate in during your time at Georgia State?
A: “I participated in the CREATE teacher residency program, which scored me my first teaching job! The counselors and mentors helped me build my voice and provided the professional development and the tools that I will take with me for the rest of my career.”
Q: Where was your first teaching job? What were your students like?
A: “My first teaching job was at Luther J. Price Middle School, where I taught sixth-grade language arts. I co-taught with another CREATE resident, and students loved the connections between classmates and teachers. Because my co-teacher and I both identify as Black women in the millennial generation, students felt we understood their interests and trends. Although students were inquisitive and nervous about middle school, our intentional community-building strategies helped us create a safe and inclusive environment. This experience helped me develop a deeper understanding and compassion for my students and colleagues.”
Q: What were some of the biggest takeaways from your time teaching with the CREATE teacher residency program?
A: “One of my biggest takeaways after an intensive and supportive mentorship through the CREATE residency program is the idea of reflection. As an educator, it is imperative that I navigate my career by using reflective strategies to tweak my teaching strategies and revise my teaching philosophy consistently. CREATE helped me understand various ways to reflect by recording myself, keeping journals, analyzing student work and thinking about how I show up for students in my class, alongside collaborating with colleagues.”
Q: What are your post-graduation plans?
A: “I plan to teach for a few more years, start my own family and sell my paintings. I plan to travel the world and learn from different people in different places.”
Q: What's something you've learned in your degree program that you'll apply to your work after you graduate?
A: “I learned about the power of self-care and having compassion for myself and others. It connects to my profession because if you’ve ever been teacher-tired, then you have been at your wit’s end. However, taking care of yourself is the best coping strategy to guide teachers. Having compassion for others continues to hold me accountable for learning about people, their strengths and their areas for improvement. This builds opportunities for people to improve with love and support.”