Neema Avashia
Neema Avashia is a graduate of BTR’s very first cohort and now teaches 8th grade Civics at the McCormack School in Dorchester, where she also did her residency seven years ago.
Before joining BTR, Neema worked with students as a tutor and mentor in elementary and secondary schools in Pittsburgh and in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to teaching, her undergraduate studies in professional writing and history, a minor in teaching ESL, and a graduate degree in education policy all influenced her decision to teach in Boston through BTR.
Inspiration to teach:
My high school math teacher, Ms. Thomas. I struggled with a lot of aspects of higher-level math, particularly things like analytic geometry, solids of revolution in Calculus, etc., yet felt compelled to take really hard math classes…and she never quit on me, and continually conveyed her belief that I could do the work. And it worked. I slept my way through college Calculus and still got an A. :) I hope to be able to do the same for my students…but if they sleep in their college classes, I’m not going to be happy!
About my students:
My students make me think hard. They make me laugh a lot. They’ve taught me to speak Spanish fluently, and Kriolu humorously; to dance bachata; to be unabashed in my love of pop music by the likes of Ne-yo; and to appreciate the simple pleasure found in hot fries and coke from the little store (plus much more!). They continually push me to be a better teacher, and a better person, than the one I presently am. They are far more interesting than adults, and a lot more enjoyable to be around. I am a very, very lucky to know them, and blessed that so many of them continue to keep in touch even after they move on to high school.
About BTR:
I love how BTR has introduced me to so many teachers with shared work ethic, passion for teaching and learning, and love of young people. There is a growing group of teachers in this city who I know I can email at any time for ideas, support, or company in eating pupusas in JP. And every time we interact, I walk away inspired and energized. I don’t have a pre-BTR history in Boston, but I know for certain that this is something that BTR has done for me.
Favorite Thing in the World To Do:
Eat amazing food, followed by excellent ice cream, with my phenomenal friends and family members, using excessive adjectives all the while.
Random thought:
Most of my thoughts are random, but recently I’ve been wondering: What if Boston made every public school roof a living roof, with wind turbines and solar panels, and fueled all of its buses with biodiesel? How much money would we save, and environmental impact would we have?
Recently by Neema
RSS Feed1.30.11 - Becoming the Root
The other day, someone I work with asked me, “Why are you still at the McCormack?” It’s not the first time I’ve been asked that question. Stay in the same school for 8 years, and I guess it’s a natural question, particularly in the… [more]
2 comments so far
1.17.11 - The Pseudoscience of Data in Education
In medicine, when doctors collect data, they use it to make decisions. You see that patient X has a certain white blood cell count, or a certain oxygen level, or particular points of concern on an ultrasound, and you make decisions accordingly. Most of… [more]
2 comments so far
1.04.11 - Growth
Every year, another teacher at my school gets that look on his or her face. You know the look if you’ve seen it—it’s the look of being stuck. Of feeling like you’re not getting satisfaction out of your work the way you once did,… [more]
2 comments so far
11.07.10 - C is for Collaboration (and cookies)
This year, my Sundays are consistently booked for 4-5 hours each afternoon, when the other Civics teacher at my school (shout out to BTR cohort 8) comes over and we spend time planning out the content for the week ahead. This is my 8th… [more]
2 comments so far
10.27.10 - High Maintenance
This past weekend my principal described me has a “high-maintenance” teacher, in the same sentence where he described himself as being high-maintenance as well. His theory was that part of the reason we’re able to work well together is because we both demand a… [more]
5 comments so far
