Intellectual Contribution/Faculty Tribute Award Recipient: Joe Baker, EPM'09

Milwaukee native Joe Baker, Ed.M.'09, came to the Ed School wanting to do it all in education, only to discover what he really wants is to get back in the classroom and teach. Luckily, Baker will head back to his adopted home, Brooklyn, N.Y., in the coming weeks as a Spanish teacher for Uncommon High School - a new charter school. He is thrilled about his new position, "Not only will I get to return to what I've missed terribly - teaching - but I'll also take part in the creation of curricula, after school programs, family outreach initiatives, etc," Baker says. "Basically, I get to keep teaching while letting my fledgling sense of educational entrepreneurship develop."

"Joe exhibits a passion for the work of education that is infectious - he has a positive impact on everyone he meets," says Professor Karen Mapp, director of the Education Policy and Management Program (EPM). Mapp also shares that Baker's classmates are impressed by his upbeat and positive attitude in and out of class, as well as his commandeering presence and consistent preparation.

Upon learning that he had been honored with the Intellectual Contribution/Faculty Tribute Award for EPM, Baker answered some questions about his time at the Ed School and beyond.

What was your goal upon entering the Ed School?
When I set foot in Gutman for the first time, I think I had these lofty aspirations of being the P. Diddy of the education world. Just like he's involved in every aspect of entertainment, I felt I was going to simultaneously dabble in policy, research, leadership, and school creation. It didn't take too long before I realized - much to my dismay - that I'm no P. Diddy. My experiences at HGSE allowed me to come to the conclusion that I need to be in schools, on the ground, working as a practitioner, and interacting with the amazingly brilliant and inspiring kids of the NYC schools.

What is something that you learned at HGSE that you will take with you throughout your career in education?
WWKMD? Otherwise known as "What would Karen Mapp do?" Her class on school-family-community partnerships completely shifted the educational paradigm for me and I'll never be able to think about education without considering the role of families and the communities in which they live. After all, schools are manifestations of communities. We must respect that and allow all stakeholders an equal voice.

How did you stay inspired throughout the year?
I needed to surround myself by kids every now and then and was able to do that through an internship with the Boston Public Schools Office of Family and Student Engagement. Not only did it allow me to spend a couple hours each week reading with first graders, but it also kept me grounded as I poured through intense theoretical readings or wrote the 700th paper of the semester.

Any special study spots on campus (or off)?
I think I single-handedly managed to keep every coffee shop in or around Cambridge recession-proof because I have this inability to study at home. Diesel, Bloc 11, Darwin's, Crema, you name it - I've studied there (and consumed countless gallons of coffee). Best baked good in all of Cambridge? The goat cheese and pine nut scone at Crema. Yummmmm.

What advice do you have for next year's students going through your program?
You can fill every minute of every day reading, writing, pontificating, debating and then follow that up by attending panel discussions every evening with the biggest names in the world. BUT - take a moment to breathe. Don't lose a sense of yourself, who you are as a person. Maybe that means taking a yoga class. Maybe it's making cupcakes. Maybe it's spending all day watching a Bravo TV marathon. (Or maybe those three examples are just me...) Just remember there is life outside of Gutman.

If you could change one thing about education today, what would it be and why?
Inertia. The Obama change mantra hasn't spread far enough... yet. Just wait until all of us HGSE grads get out there.

2009 Intellectual Contribution/Faculty Tribute Award Recipients

Suzannah Holsenbeck, TEP

Elisha Brookover, L&L'09

Mangala Nanda, IEP'09

Andrew Cabot, SS'09

Nancy Schoolcraft, MBE'09

Joe Baker, EPM'09

Kathy Yang, L&T'09

Angelica Brisk, AIE'09

Melissa Mayes, R&P'09

Jerome "Jay" Green, HDP'09

Ashton Wheeler Clemmmons, SLP'09

Terri-Nicole Singleton, TIE'09

Emily Almas, HE'09