Story by Jen Jordan / March 29, 2024
At which MSS campus do you teach?
Meeting Street – Brentwood
When and why did you decide to be a teacher?
I am a genuine lover of learning. I am very interested in the way different children learn and develop. Knowing that students learn something new everyday is such an exciting concept to me!
Where did you go to school?
Pennsylvania State University
Where did you do your student teaching and what did you take away from that experience?
I did my student teaching at a low income child care facility in State College, PA after working at a NAEYC accredited child development lab on the Penn State campus. The internship allowed me to focus on the differences that can occur in education, especially in early childhood education. It also showed me that a lack in developmental or cultural knowledge can really shift the mentality of the adults who care for children and helped me create a personal goal to understand and celebrate differences in all of us.
How did you decide which school you would teach at after graduating?
I knew I wanted to work with Special Needs students in an inclusive setting so I worked for Easter Seals for 4 years with infants and toddlers until I moved to Charleston.
Which school(s) did you teach at before coming to Meeting Street Schools?
I taught and was a Mentor Teacher at Daniel Island Academy for 4 years.
How did you find out about Meeting Street Schools?
I heard about MSS from a friend, did some research, and knew that this was where I wanted to be!
What was your first impression/experience at Meeting Street Schools?
I came to an Open House and saw the students and instantly fell in love. I felt like I was home again and like I could be myself at Brentwood. That feeling has just grown over my years here.
What makes Meeting Street Schools different, and/or why did you decide to work for Meeting Street Schools and what keeps you here?
Meeting Street Schools takes the time to push their staff and students to a different level. We lean in when times get hard and support each other throughout the process. I have worked hard to grow every year and have been supported in that. We say all the time that we will not lower the bar for anyone and that includes the staff.
What is your current position at Meeting Street Schools? Describe the journey from first starting at MSS to where you are now.
I am the Director of Operations at Meeting Street Brentwood. I started 5 years ago as a Business Manager and loved creating systems and processes. After 4 years in that position and hard work with rebranding the school, event planning, budget management and so much more, I was offered an Associate Director of Operations role and happily accepted. This helped me to grow in supervision and team support for some of my colleagues, overseeing our substitutes and working to build a strong Operations team. After my predecessor moved on to an out-of-state government role, it left an opening and an opportunity for me to apply to be the Director of Operations. After interviewing and showing some of my work at Meeting Street Brentwood, I was offered the role as Director of Operations!
What career goals are you still working towards?
I am happily embracing this role of Director of Operations and hope to eventually become an Assistant Principal of Operations. There is so much to learn and I am so excited for the chance to learn as much as possible! I don’t plan on leaving school since that is where I find myself the happiest. The constant pivoting and support are what keep every single day interesting and exciting.
Join a community of incredible, passionate people working to change the lives of our students. Our compensation and benefits are a cut above the rest: the most competitive total compensation in the region.
Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
MSA Spartanburg stands as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. MSA Spartanburg is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
MS Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this school is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, MS Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. MS Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the MSS network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, MS Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at MS Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. MS Burns exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, MS Burns is forging a new path in public education.
MS Jasper represents the Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, MS Jasper puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the MSS ethos of empowerment through education.
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
Meeting Street Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or national or ethnic in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships or loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
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