Leader Spotlight: Learning What Truly Matters

Jessica is an SRLA alumna and a teacher-leader at Magnolia Science Academy 1 Reseda! This March she will be taking on her first marathon as an SRLA Leader.

Jessica with students and co-leaders, celebrating the Dodgers Foundation 5K

Being a teacher makes it easy to learn the basics about students. We learn their names, their age, their reading/writing skills, and work ethic. However, often times our interactions with students are superficial and don’t go beyond the classroom.

Since I began teaching, I have made it my goal to form strong relationships with students, but it has not always been easy. This year, I wanted to challenge myself and I knew that becoming an SRLA leader would allow me to form those relationships with my students and give me the opportunity to learn more about them.

Jessica (center) and students during training

Since the season has started, I have come to the realization that the way students are in the classroom is not always how they are outside of the classroom. There is so much more to a student than their grade and work ethic. Running alongside my students has helped me learn what truly matters about my students. I am more conscious and aware of who they are as individuals. Their interests, goals, dreams, home lives, and fears have all been brought to light and have allowed me to adjust my approach in the classroom.

Being a leader has come with challenges and has added more responsibility to my job, but I am thankful for the opportunity to take on this challenge with my students and most importantly, I am thankful for the extra opportunity to learn from my students.

You can help leaders, like Jessica, empower students to succeed in life! Give the gift of running by making a donation at srla.org/donate