Applicant and School Narrative

Dobson Academy is a public charter school located in Mesa, Arizona. This school

instructs students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Dobson Academy’s goal and mission

statement is to “provide a personalized education to all students emphasizing comprehensive

academic excellence in a safe, nurturing environment through partnering parents, students and

staff.” The school has been open for 20 years, and has implemented many strategies during those

20 years to try to ensure the success of every student. Some of the strategies they have

implemented are to increase professional development by putting teachers into content teams to

maximize resources and instruction, implementing technology into course curriculum, focusing

on literacy, and assigning regular homework in all subjects. Their belief is that homework is

helpful for student learning because it calls for repetition, it teaches students about responsibility,

and provides a way for parents to be informed in what their child is learning.

The demographics of Dobson Academy are as follows: 54% of students are white, 18%

of students are Hispanic, 12% of students are Black, 6% of students are two or more races, 5% of

students are American Indian, and 4% of students are Asian. Less than 5% of students come

from low-income families. The gender split amongst students is relatively equal, with 53% of

students being female and 47% of students being male.

I am currently a 7th and 8th grade English teacher, and have recently started my second

year of teaching. I have an academic background in English Literature, and love to read, write,

and analyze pieces of literature. I majored in English Literature and received my teaching

certificate in Secondary Education from Arizona State University. I have had many experiences

during my time at Arizona State University that have impacted me and have turned me into the

teacher I am today. Some of those experiences occurred as a student teacher and mentor, but
many of them happened while I was a student at the Mary Lou Fulton Teacher’s College. I

learned many different ways to teach, differentiate instruction, and engage students during my

classes in college, and many of those strategies I still use today.

I believe in my students. I know that they are capable of what I ask of them, and believe

that effort is the best thing they can bring to my classroom. I create an open and positive

environment in my classroom by showing students understanding, compassion, and empathy. I

believe that English classrooms have a special place in the curriculum because we are able to talk

about feelings and emotions. I require students to journal throughout the semester so they have

an outlet, a way to express their own feelings, and get a chance to practice their writing in a

unique way.

I have had many opportunities to incorporate technology into my lesson plans and

classroom. We have a class website where I have posted many screencasts of my lessons if

students need additional help. They are also able to talk to each other through this website, and I

have a place on the site where students can ask each other questions. We also have access to

laptops and iPads, and I utilize these in my classroom as often as possible. We take many

surveys and questionnaires, and these surveys are easy tools to gauge if students are

understanding a certain concept or topic. I also assign group projects utilizing technology often,

requiring students to make projects online, create podcasts, and make and edit videos.

I feel lucky to have the opportunity to inspire, teach, and motivate my students. I am

passionate about reading and writing. Improving the literacy of my students is my highest goal,

and the number one thing I strive for each year.