Alumni
Welcome
No comments have been posted

Janel Hall '16 Returns to Tower Hill to Teach Second Grade

Janel Hall '16 graduated from the University of Delaware in December 2019 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a concentration in special ed. She worked as a paraprofessional in the Indian River School District last spring before joining the Tower Hill faculty for the 2020-2021 school year teaching second grade. She is currently earning a master's degree in education technology at the University of Delaware.
 
Why did you decide to pursue a career in education?
I’ve always loved children and always knew I wanted to be a teacher. You could even ask Amy Bickhart—when I was in pre-k I was at the front door greeting everybody like I was the teacher. So I just always had a niche for kids, I would say. I love watching that lightbulb go off when they get an answer right or they have the right idea.
 
What has your experience been like this year so far?
It’s exciting! I like having second grade because none of the kids know me. I’m actually teaching one of my own teachers’ kids, so seeing the full circle is nice. I enjoy seeing the teachers I had in the hallways. It’s definitely hard to call my former teachers by their first names—Mrs. Bickhart was my very first teacher and now I have to call her Amy, which has taken some getting used to. It’s hard but I’m getting more comfortable, and they’re very understanding. My former teachers are excited to see me back. They’re excited I’m on the other side now and I get to step into their shoes.
 
What was your experience like as a Black student at Tower Hill, and how does that experience affect your teaching?
I feel very privileged to have attended Tower Hill as an African American woman. A lot of friends I grew up with always talked about how they wish they could have come to this school. As a student, I had a typical student experience. I made friends, my teachers were nice and the school cared about my success and well being. However, I did not learn so much about African American culture. As a teacher I want ALL of my students to feel included and to feel like they are learning about themselves. In my classroom I want to make sure I have a diverse library so students of color see their faces in books. Also, when we are learning about history, I want to not just talk about the “white American” history, but everyone's story. 

What interested you in teaching at your alma mater?
I’ve never left Tower Hill. I have a little brother, Joshua Hall ’23, who’s in 10th grade. All of the teachers here knew I was going into education, and they always said, “You should come back." Once I graduated college, I applied but there weren’t any open positions, so I just let it pass. I got a job in the Indian River School District and was working there and then all of a sudden this opportunity just appeared. 
 
What are you passionate about at work?
I love teaching math. When I was here actually I always struggled with math, so I think it’s so ironic that I actually love teaching math now. I think I like math the most because I struggled here, so I know if I see a kid struggling I have that connection with them and can help them a little bit better. I’m really into differentiating and helping teach the kids who struggle, in any subject but especially math because I know how challenging it can be.

What is the importance of being a Black educator at Tower Hill?
I believe it is so important being an African American educator because there are not a lot, especially at Tower Hill. Students of color need a role model and a face that looks like them in the classroom. As role models, parental figures and advocates, I can build relationships with students of color that help those students feel connected at Tower Hill. Not only because I’m here as a teacher but because I went here and I know how it feels to be one of the only African American students.
Back