Connections, Creativity in Joy Bazzle’s Classroom
Joy Bazzle, Richey Academy’s Teacher of the Year for 2015, has never allowed herself to be defeated by adversity and the trials of life. It’s an attitude and perspective she brings to her career as a teacher of English Language Arts.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bazzle, who is going into her second year as a Camelot teacher, said she closely identifies with her students, most of whom face challenges in their lives.
“I believe some people who choose to work in alternative schools do so because they might not have any other choice. Me, I’d rather not be anywhere else and I think that’s true for most of my colleagues,” she said. “It’s the reason why some last and some don’t. I could have left but I don’t think I’d fit in anywhere else. I connect with my students because many of them come from the same background as I do.”
Bazzle, who teachers 6th, 7th and 8th graders, came from a family that was challenged. She is also a survivor of domestic abuse. She said her mother had an 8th grade education; her father a substance abuser had only a 4th grade education. Her older brothers and sisters weren’t good role models and she also had to contend with growing up in an urban community where street crime was an everyday occurrence.
Her refuge became books. Her spirit expressed itself in creative arts and that artistic creativity is constantly displayed in her class room. She’s created a reading nook for her students and artwork where her students’ work is also displayed.
“I’ve been creative all of my life. I can create something out of nothing,” she said. “Sometimes it’s a blessing, other times, it’s not. It keeps it up at night on many occasions. I love to read and encourage my students to read and to explore their creative sides. I gravitated to reading early and it saved my life. Seeing my father’s addiction, books became my refuge.
Although reading became a temporary escape she was determined not to be defeated by life’s hardships. Bazzle was the first to complete High School or even earn a college degree in her family. She went on to earn an associate’s degree, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Teaching at risk youth is her passion and calling; a mission shared by her colleagues as Camelot’s Richey Academy.
“You have to be able to see the potential in these young men and women and get them to see it,” she said. “They ultimately realize they’re not victims but survivors. Like me, they learn not to succumb but to be encouraged and empowered.”
Take a look at how Joy Bazzle has personalized her classroom with her passion and creativity:
