Dimitri Syros
Social Studies Teacher
ACCESS
To be a truly transformational teacher, it is critical to provide students with access to people, opportunities and resources that they might be unable to reach, or were unaware of. In my classroom, I like to look outwardly for optimal moments to bring my curriculum to life. One way that I phrase it to my students is "Let's open doors, not textbooks." As my students make connections, they begin to build their own networks and realize the power that they wield in their potential to accrue knowledge and seek opportunities. As a teacher it is my duty to put it all on the line for my students to provide them with as many point of access as possible.
By presenting my students with an array of outside resources, I provided them with an opportunity to bridge the topics we have been learning about in class with the real-world. Integrating with professionals in the field of law motivated my students to achieve more and showed them that anything is possible. Engaging with other students from across the world broadened my student's perspectives and showed them first hand realities of racial segregation. These experiences may not have been provided to my students had it not been for their presence in my class, thus I hope that I inspired them to seek more, ask questions, and take charge of their futures.
Attorney: EM Imizamo Yethu School:
Cape Town, South Africa