Instructional Leadership Student: Kathryn Ribay

Hometown: Boiling Spring, Pa.
Expert Subject: Science

Kathryn Ribay always recognized the importance of education. Growing up in a family of educators, she had a passion for learning combined with a love of chemistry. Since participating in Teach for America, Ribay hasn't looked back from a career in the classroom.

What attracted you to the Instructional Leadership strand?
My goals for graduate school are to improve my own pedagogy and learn how to have an impact on a school beyond my classroom. The Instructional Leadership strand emphasizes both practice and leadership, and will enable me to move forward as both a masterful teacher and a school leader.

Did you have any reservations about participating in a pilot program?
No, I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of the program, and to be a part of envisioning what this strand will look like.

What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about teaching?
That teaching is easy! More specifically, that teaching is simply the act of conveying information. Teaching requires a strong grasp of subject matter, an understanding of child and adolescent development, and the ability to spark creativity and critical thinking within a content area.

What do you most hope to get out of your year at HGSE?
I hope to have the chance to reflect on my own practice and leave prepared with a stronger sense of my educational values and how I will convey them in the classroom. I also want to explore what it means to be a leader, and gain a stronger awareness of education policy and the research behind it.

What is you favorite part of teaching in your subject area?
I love the excitement in a class when we get to work in the chemistry lab and students see the concepts in action. I also love that students come in convinced that they will not do well in a hard subject like chemistry, and leave more confident in themselves as students after they realize what they are capable of.