The Pulteney Street SurveySummer '24

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Parallels

engaged teaching, memorable mentors and an urge to travel across the generations

Davis

NICOLE DAVIS ’00

  • Milton Public Schools PreK Teacher and 2023 Teacher of the Year
  • Board Member of Elevate Youth
  • M.Ed. in Special Education and Teaching K-12, Simmons College
  • M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and Movement Therapy, Lesley University

Major: Psychology
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.

George

ALEX GEORGE ’24

  • Member of the Teacher Education Program
  • Writing Fellow
  • Student-athlete (ice hockey)
  • Athletic Study Mentor

Major: Psychological Science and Educational Studies
Hometown: Marysville, Mich.

What qualities make a teacher effective?
ND: Being organized yet flexible. Also, knowing your students well enough to read the room accurately. AG: A genuine passion for teaching, patience, creativity, empathy, and adaptability.

Which HWS professor had a major impact on you?
ND: Professor Betty Bayer. She was just so brilliant and that came across in her teaching. I learned so much. AG: Professor Jamie Bodenlos. Her unwavering dedication to teaching mindfulness and her advocacy and counseling work have deeply influenced me.

What was your favorite psychology class?
ND: Child Psych AG: Child Psych

Favorite Saga order?
ND: I loved the burger bar on Sundays. AG: Saga has the best French fries!

What makes a good day at school?
ND: My kids leaving happy and excited is always a good day! AG: Laughter, excitement and boundless curiosity.

What would students be surprised to learn about you?
ND: That I come from a family of teachers. AG: That I played ice hockey my whole life!

What are some challenges facing the education profession?
ND: Teachers aren’t seen as competent professionals anymore. There is also a lack of understanding that the majority of our materials come from our own pockets and most of the prep work happens outside of school hours. Burnout is a real problem. AG: Insufficient funding, limited resources, and a shortage of educators equipped to meet the diverse needs of students.

What’s your ideal way to spend your summer break?
ND: Traveling! I go away for as long as I can and to as many places as I can! AG: Travel! There are so many places around the world I would love to see!

If you could take your students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
ND: The Denver Aquarium! I love the floor to ceiling glass so they could see everything in the tanks. AG: The largest aquarium in the world, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in southern China.