2011 marked Ty’rion Richards’s introduction to Crescent City Schools, when she began attending Harriet Tubman Charter School as an eighth grade student. Although Ty’rion had spent her previous middle school years at another school in the city, the connections she made with Tubman staff and teachers helped her to thrive in her new school environment and inspired her to begin her own career in education.
Fast forward to today – Ty’rion is now in her fourth year as a teacher in the CCS network, and her experience at Tubman continues to influence her teaching style and her goal of being a mentor and positive role model for her students.
Reflecting on her Tubman experience, Ty’rion identified at least one of the secrets of the Tubman magic: positive relationships, amongst students as well as between students and teachers. Tubman’s school culture is joyful, organized, and positive, which creates an environment that is conducive to learning and fostering strong connections.
“Teachers like Ms. LaMotte-Mitchell had an incredible knack for explaining the ‘why’ behind Tubman’s rules, and for making students feel understood and valued,” Ty’rion said.
Ty’rion was at Tubman for her eighth grade year, a pivotal time for many students, and she believes that Tubman equipped her well for high school and beyond, with life skills like independence, responsibility, and organization.
“We had school ‘paychecks’ that started off with $100, and misbehaviors would result in consequences, which would be deducted from that amount,” Ty’rion said. “It was how I learned about independence, and when I got to high school, I knew it was up to me to get what I needed.”
Positive relationships with teachers continued to play a role in Ty’rion’s life, and she remained in contact with former Tubman teachers like LaMotte-Mitchell as well as influential high school teachers.
“My former teachers celebrated my achievements. They came to football games when I was Ms. Freshman and Ms. Junior and attended my high school and college graduations,” Ty’rion said. “We really did build a bond, and I appreciate how, even though I was a quiet kid, my teachers still found the time to talk to me and build that relationship. Sometimes we educators give so much of our energy to the kids who really need more support in some way. I excelled in school and didn’t technically need the extra attention and love my Tubman teachers gave me. But they gave it anyway, and it felt really good, which is why we had that bond and still have it to this day.”
One of Ty’rion’s goals is to impact students the way the teachers at Tubman impacted her.
“I have strong bonds with many of my kids. The first group of students that I taught is in eighth grade now, and I still go to their awards ceremony. Many of those students still come to me when they need someone to talk to,” Ty’rion said.
Beyond forming bonds with her students, Ty’rion prides herself on her organization skills as a teacher.
“For me, everything has to be organized, and lesson plans get internalized the day before,” she said. “I just want to make sure that I am always ready, which is something I learned from Tubman.”
The importance Ty’rion places on organization and preparedness is indeed another hallmark of her time at Tubman. Each year, the school spends one week celebrating International Binder Week, a competition across grade levels to identify and highlight the most organized students.
In addition to being a third grade ELA teacher this academic year, Ty’rion has also taken on the role of team lead, which allows her to lead team meetings for third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers.
“I was nervous about this position, but I am looking forward to it and seeing how much progress I make,” Ty’rion said. “I know that I am an awesome teacher, and I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned, giving different tips to other teachers, and seeing how other people on my team grow.”
It is that aspect of teamwork that inspires Ty’rion and makes working at CCS so unique.
“We are a community here at CCS. It’s not just about your relationship with your students but also with your co-workers. Everyone knows they can reach out and that someone is always there when you need them. It’s always good to have someone in your corner, and I always have that in our network.”
