Camelot Teacher Profile: Renee Witherspoon

English teacher Renee Witherspoon is in her first year at Camelot’s Chicago Excel Academy. Teaching all levels of English she uses her creativity to build a curriculum and classroom environment that her students can relate to. Before joining the team at Excel Academy, Renee taught Middle School English in a low income district. Overall, she enjoys helping those who often lack the desire or resources to help themselves.

Since being a part of Camelot, Renee says that what she appreciates the most is the team atmosphere and the support she gets from her fellow teachers and staff. She is excited to see her first class graduate this year and looks forward to seeing what they will accomplish.

What brought you to Camelot?

“The purpose of this program is what interested me the most. The fact that we are able to respond to the issue of a high rate of high school dropouts is why I’m here.  I believe that teaching students who want a second chance is a way for me not just to help them, but our communities and society as a whole.”

What do you like most about teaching at a Camelot school?

“I like the structure that Camelot provides for our students. I like the fact that we have teachers and behavioral specialist who are able to talk to students and diffuse situations if needed. Also, the staff at the school works well together. I never feel like I’m alone. I know that my team leader, the behavioral specialist and my fellow teachers have my back.”

Overall my experience at Camelot has helped me be a better teacher and a better person. I’ve learned how to read a person, figure out why they behave the way they do, and determine how I can help them. Most of all, it’s taught me how to fight for my students.”

How do you help your students overcome some of the challenges they face?

“I constantly remind myself that at Camelot we are changing lives. I make sure that my class is a safe learning environment where they can not only learn, but they can be themselves. I want to provide them with an escape from all of the negative things they see on a regular. My hope is that they will begin to find the answers to their challenges within themselves because they are gaining confidence through expanding their minds. I also present myself as an approachable person, not just a teacher, but a mentor for them whenever they need a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear…I am here.”

How do you see the Camelot norms benefiting your students?

“We don’t have rules at our school; we have norms. Norms are expected behaviors that benefit our school and the educational process that takes place every day. The consistency and structure that these norms provide are definitely benefiting the students. Our students are being taught self-control, leadership, responsibility, and accountability. These qualities will help them become independent adults that will be assets to our society.”

What part of your English Curriculum do you enjoy teaching the most?

“One of the things I like about teaching English is that it can incorporate not just written expression, but also verbal. I love the dialogue that you can have with your students whether we’re reading Shakespeare or a contemporary novel we can relate it to real life events and get the students involved.  I really like having dialogue with my students because I feel like I’m not only building reading skills but I’m helping them to be well rounded people.

What project have you done in the classroom that your students really enjoy?

“For Black History Month the students did research on a person from the past that contributed to African American culture and American society as a whole. They did research on people like Josephine Baker and Louis Armstrong and completed a 3-part midterm project. In addition to writing a paper and a giving a presentation they had to do what we call historical role play. The students actually had to answer questions as if they were the person that they studied. We had a dinner party, we set them up and had them discuss a specific topic and then they answered the way they thought the person they were playing would answer. The students really loved it!”

How would your students describe you?

“I think they would describe me as a fun teacher who is down to earth and really cares about her students. I believe they would say I am well balanced, a teacher who doesn’t hesitate to demand respect from them and toward education, but will give them the same respect.  Hopefully they will say that I  go above and beyond to make sure they understand assignments and the task before them; that’s the kind of teacher I try to be…everyday. “