Travis Bristol

Inspiration to teach:

I am unapologetic in my belief that a “quality” education allows the economically disenfranchised to become socially mobile. I am inspired to teach because I have experienced, personally, the consequences of educational malpractice as a student in New York City public schools. At the same time, however, there were a few teachers such as Sarah Gopen and Elayne Shapiro, my 7th and 11th grade E/la teachers, who got me excited about learning: I still hear Ms. Shapiro shouting “STELLA” as we read A Streetcar Named Desire. I continue to teach because I know that all students can learn if we, teachers, create the conditions for learning; I feel deeply the moral imperative to create such conditions.

About my students:

Over the past eight years, I’ve worked with learners in various settings from teenagers in small public high schools and correctional facilities, to adults in international professional development sessions, and recent undergrads and career changers in BTR. The one constant has been that learning happened most when I abdicated responsibility for being the only teacher in the room and created a space where I could be in a community of teachers.

About BTR:

Happily, BTR reminds me a lot of my own teacher preparation program – STEP (Stanford Teacher Education Program). First, here at BTR, I do believe that there is a sincere commitment to prepare our residents to teach for social justice. Also, all of my fellow CTEs have a deep theoretical and practical understanding of teaching and learning.

Favorite Thing in the World To Do:

I love to travel!

Random thought:

To whom much is given, much is required.