Post by Erin Castellano, Communications Intern Spring 2019
In the Mayor’s Office of Education we’re passionate about a lot of things, and education, of course, is at the top of the list! We serve Philadelphians through PHLpreK, Community Schools, Philly Reading Coaches, and more.
That’s why we thought it would be fun to reflect upon our own personal educational journeys, with a look at what education means to our team. As you’ll see below, we couldn’t help but include school pictures along the way!
Read on to find out what education means to the Mayor’s Office of Education team:
Kenny Luu, OST Volunteer Program Manager
“Personally [education] means opportunity and salvation,” said Kenny. “I think that a big part of the reason that I’m interested in youth development and education is because of the quote ‘education is the great equalizer.’ My dad’s family is all Vietnam War refugees, and the reason he was able to leave the country was as a student. After that he was able to bring the rest of his family over, so for me it symbolizes new beginnings.”
Eddie Borrelli, Communications and Events Specialist
“For me personally [education] means opportunity,” said Eddie. “I was born and raised through Philly schools. My mom is a teacher and my dad used to be a cook at South Philly High. So for me education has always been important and giving back and working toward improving education in my city in this office is really important to me. I think a lot of times people like to say that you’re able to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, but the only way you’re actually going to be able to move forward through this world is through education.”
Abby Schottenfels, Administrative Specialist
“The inequity of education is really what lead me to this office and to this kind of work,” said Abby. “I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and the inequality was really stark. It was very clear that once you stepped over an invisible line, that you would get a very different education depending on which side of the line you lived on. That was something that was always very apparent to me and always felt very wrong. To me education means adding what you can be and learning to be who you already are.”
Logan Peterson, Special Projects Coordinator
“I had an economics of education professor at Temple who really helped me realize that my degree, which was so business-y, also connected to education. Because I had certain educators in my life I was able to do things and get into spaces that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get into,” said Logan. “I know the opportunities education has opened up for me and I think it’s unjust for society to not provide others that same opportunity.”
Jade Wallace, Workforce Development Coordinator
“My educational opportunities have inspired me to want to inspire others to reach their educational milestones,” said Jade. “It is really important to me because there was a time when my ancestors could not access [education] at the levels that I have. I feel it is my moral obligation to engage in as many educational opportunities as possible including formal learning opportunities, travelling, trying out new things, and meeting new people. Education is a way to explore and discover the unknown and take you places that you never thought possible.”
Laura Crandall, Healthy Schools Specialist
“Sometimes it’s easier for me to think about how I don’t define education, which is the model of just opening someone’s head and pouring in information. Instead it’s really about recognizing that we are all experts in some areas in our own lives and how we can form a conversation based on everyone’s experiences in the room,” said Laura. “My particular interest area is always been around food and how it can be a particular tool for creating social change. [Food] can support students in starting school gardens or making changes in their school food environments and cafeterias for better learning experiences overall.”
Alex Labee, Philly Reading Coaches Volunteer Coordinator
“Education comes in all shapes and forms and is a solid foundation for understanding the world around you. From driving a car to cooking breakfast, we are governed by all of these different things that I think education provides a foundation for,” said Alex. “STEM is extremely important because you’re learning physics, chemistry, and other subjects that teach you about the fundamentals of existing. [Education] should be accessible to literally everyone.”
Andrea DiMola, Community Schools Manager
“Education helps expose people to what options there are and what the world is like and could be like as well. Education is about building connections but also about helping to make sure that folks have the opportunities that they need,” said Andrea. “I think about my teaching experience. I worked with special education students for a long time and tried to make sure they had the free and appropriate support that they needed and deserved.”
Juliet Shen, Communications Manager for Out of School Time
“I love the idea of being a lifelong learner because [education] is not the kind of thing that you do and then you’re done. It’s about passing on information to the next generation, so we need to think about how we want to do that and what kind of educational legacy we want to leave,” said Juliet. “This is a new position for me so I’m continuing to ask questions and research this new realm and the policy around it in my everyday life.”
Maria Cashman, Kindergarten Transition VISTA
“Knowledge is power. If you get the opportunity to get a good education at such a young age and further it, [education] helps you in the long run,” said Maria. “I was a public health major which is pretty broad, but I think that broad knowledge gives me the opportunity to apply [my skills] to different areas. Things like fighting poverty and serving youth apply to my educational background because I understand those things in a different way.”
Janelle Harper, Community Schools Coordinator for South Philadelphia High School
“Education for me didn’t just start in the classroom. The support I received from my teachers outside of the classroom helped me develop personal growth, my motivation for staying in the education field and helping students that struggled like me,” said Janelle. “After getting my Masters degree in Child and Adolescent Development, I worked as a school therapist and addressed students’ mental health needs in a school setting. Working in direct service of students helped me understand how to support them with resources outside of school and teach them how to be empowered and to advocate for themselves.”
Collette Butler, Community Schools Coordinator for Logan Elementary School
“Education is life long, you don’t ever stop learning and the best part about it is life experience,” said Collette. “It was my parents that made education important to me. My father had a high school diploma and my mother had a Masters degree, but what they taught me wasn’t about academics. It was more about contributing to the community as a long-lasting experience. That continues today through my brother and I as we realize giving back is the most important thing in life.”
Otis Hackney, Chief Education Officer
“[Education] creates opportunities for everyone. For wealthy kids it might not mean as much but in terms of things they want to pursue they have to be educated just like kids who live in our poorest neighborhoods,” said Otis. “When I think about young people, or people that I grew up with, or even people now in that same neighborhood where I grew up, I don’t want to be the outlier. I want to flip it so that more folks are successful, going to school, attending college, and pursuing their dreams.”
