ETHNIC GEMS
Nachelle Gordon
Boston, MA, By Tre Alee, Senior Writer
Educators who are passionate about imparting knowledge into the impressionable minds of our youth and who are committed to guiding them down the path of excellence, are more common than not. Nachelle Gordon, a ninth and twelfth grade English teacher at New Mission High School in Boston, Massachusetts, is one who exemplifies that passion and sincere desire to see the youth of today succeed beyond their own expectations.
A twenty-seven year old native of Dorchester, Massachusetts, Nachelle attended UMASS Amherst as an undergraduate, searching for her direction like most young students. Almost immediately after receiving her degree in Legal Studies from UMASS Amherst, she was accepted into the Boston Teacher’s Residency Program, based out of Boston, receiving her Master’s in Education within one year. Initially it was her aim to pursue a law degree, specializing in poverty or housing law, but once she was accepted into the Master’s of Education Program and became a teacher, there was no doubt in her mind that teaching was what she wanted to do. Nachelle expressed her passion for teaching proudly and with a smile, “I would say that it has become my life. I’m passionate about supporting my community and creating change whenever necessary.” She also states, “I see my job not just as a teacher, but that is my community service.” Her enthusiasm is manifested through her teaching tactics and as a result, her students are eager to learn and utilize the tools in which she gives them to progress.
During the summer months when teachers should be enjoying their much needed vacations and relaxation, Nachelle turns in one teaching hat for another in the effort of making a difference in a young person’s life. For the past two years she has worked as an instructor at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, for the summer Coach Program. The program involves training the hospital’s interns, who are students from local high schools in the Boston area. She equips each young person with vital information to help perfect their skills within the areas of goal settings, motivation, communication and professionalism. Each process, lecture and exercise is geared towards putting each individual in the mindset of achieving any goal that he or she may have set. Nachelle also encourages the interns to create a mantra that they repeat back to themselves to keep them motivated and determined to reach their highest potential. “In schools, on the streets, in media, there are so many things that can distract you from accomplishing what you want to accomplish. So you have to have a way to keep yourself positive and motivated,” Nachelle said after reciting a few motivational slogans the interns shared during her classes this past summer. As she took a brief moment to reflect, she was overjoyed that the interns voluntarily attended her classes to soak up knowledge in preparation for their future endeavors.
Just when you think her plate is completely full, Nachelle adds a little bit more with the optimism of change and lending an ear or voice to promoting positive productivity within the school system. In January 2009, Nachelle officially established Future Leaders by Design (FLD), a mentoring and leadership development program for high school girls. The program is open to young girls from various local high schools who envision themselves as the next leaders of today and tomorrow. FLD also raises self-esteem, enlightens and encourages young girls to avoid setting limits in pursuit of their life’s ambitions. Nachelle feels that self-awareness, academic achievement and civic engagement are three major areas of excellence that are important to each girl’s development and are the areas of concentration in the program. She also creates a social atmosphere in which the female students can become better acquainted with one another and to have an enjoyable and memorable experience through education and self-uplifting. Furthermore, in recent months she became a member of the METCO Board of Education, which gives her the chance to echo her concerns in addition to offering helpful suggestions that will continue to fortify a program that has been in existence since the 1960’s. In part, the METCO Program gives young students from various cities an opportunity to attend public schools in other communities to increase diversity, decrease racial barriers and to grant more educational opportunities.
Nachelle’s desire for young students of all ages to succeed by receiving proper education is even greater for those living in urban neighborhoods. “In urban communities there are so many other factors that contribute to kids not valuing education like they should,” she stated with the undertones of concern. “I feel like our families do want our kids to go to school, but there are so many negative outside factors and that’s what we combat in the school building.” Nachelle realizes that in some instances before she can teach, she may have to first become a sounding board for a student to express his or her personal conflicts before he or she can properly learn. In such cases, she willingly gives of herself in various capacities acting as a friend, a mother figure, an older sister, a mentor and even at times a psychologist to help lessen the personal burdens of her students. She also feels that it is crucial that the students evolve through learning, understanding that although personal hardships and difficulties may arise, any young person can overcome through educational privileges and in the belief that someone cares.
While remaining an influential positive role model in the lives of our youth, Nachelle’s influence expands beyond a learning institution’s curriculum and its four walls. In 2005, she co-founded a local non-profit organization, the Young Black Woman’s Society (YBWS), along with four other active members. The organization was formed to create a bond of sisterhood that would empower, strengthen and encourage other young black professional women. The association is extremely dedicated to outreach programs, volunteering for community up-building and just simply celebrating life as black women with purpose. Since Nachelle saw a greater need to help train young teenage girls, preparing them to be prospective professional women, Future Leader’s by Design (FLD) was birthed through the leadership of YBWS. To date, YBWS is comprised of fifty plus members who all share the same vision, “Lifting as we climb” a quote by Audre Lorde, which Nachelle says is the organization’s motto. Currently, she holds the title of Executive Director and while YBWS is flourishing on the local circuit, she is looking to grow the membership on a more global spectrum.
Even though Nachelle Gordon is an active hardworking pillar within her community, in which she is proud to be a part of, she prefers to be behind the scenes. When asked what she wants people to know of her and of her accomplishments in the next five years she humbly stated, “I don’t want anybody to see me. I’m not the type that wants any type of accolades, any type of fame, any type of anything. I just want to see change happen in my schools. I also want my own school and I want young girls attending school to be happy and to go off to college. Honestly, all of this can happen and no one has to know who Nachelle is.” One of her ultimate goals is to establish a school for girls, providing them with a safe and clean environment to learn and use as a stepping stone for future goals. Additionally, she plans to get her Doctorate, but her love for teaching will remain, “Even when I go to get my Doctorate, I will be Dr. Gordon in a ninth grade classroom.” Nachelle’s passion for educating our youth and ensuring that their futures are just as bright and promising as hers, will continue to be a driving force and motivation for what she so skillfully does on a daily basis.
Nachelle embodies the same conviction of change within the school system as President Barack Obama does worldwide, “I think that once we get to a place where everyone says, it’s my responsibility to get these kids off to college, once we do that as a community I think that’s when we will start to see change.” Nachelle is undeniably a motivator and a strong black woman who will indeed make all the changes she seeks. Her diligence and determination will continue to pave the way for her students, realizing that they are the voices of the next generation and the men and women of the future. Equipping them now, will make for a better tomorrow.
