Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Chesney (Cain)
What is your favorite subject to teach and why?
Hmmm...Art because it feeds my creative side and history because it feeds my intellectual side. I often incorporate art in the way I teach my history classes.
If you could, would you change the subjects or a subject that you teach?
No, I’m very passionate about what I teach. I enjoy watching and contributing to good “aha moments”. I especially love when I witness students in Art build confidence in their work and themselves.
How has your overall teaching experience been?
Its been very rewarding, I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a teacher and person. I’ve also made great connections with my students. I work very hard to improve every day for my students. I love the diversity that Eastern has.
How have your students affected you and the way you think?
They have made teaching worth while. When the job gets difficult, they motivate me to hang in there. They [the students] have given me several different perspectives and made me realize that you never know what students are going through, a lot of the times its way more than one would think.
Many students love you and your overall teaching style, are you aware of your impact?
I know the students like me, but it can be hard to see how much of an impact I’m making unless they [the students] come back and tell me themselves. Otherwise, I’m kinda ignorant to it. I just want every student, no matter what they’re going through, to feel this [her classroom] is a safe space where they can grow and learn because not everyone has the best home life.
How does it feel and what does it mean to be a white woman teaching African American history?
As a white woman, I feel I need to know what I’m talking about and bring even more to the table. I feel like even though I look different [ than majority of the students], I still can contribute my knowledge and learn from the students.
