Kenan Kerr: Northwest Learning Community Teacher Of The Year

Press release from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools:

4/26/2021

When Kenan Kerr was a seventh-grader, her social studies teacher mummified a chicken when they studied ancient Egypt. It made an impression.

"While I was disgusted as an adolescent, this experience impressed upon me the power of experiential learning," said Kerr. "In my classes, we don't mummify chickens, but we hold mock trials, created a pollinator garden at our school, have taken cultural walks and investigated food sovereignty issues affecting our community."

Kerr, an English language arts teacher at Whitewater Middle, almost didn't become a teacher. She was leaning toward social work, therapy or school counseling.

"My mom was an elementary school educator for Exceptional Children. I saw her bring a lot of worries home. I don't know why I thought those other careers wouldn't have the same challenge. Ultimately, teaching is where I felt I could make the most impact," said Kerr.

Early in her career, she wanted to teach high school students. That changed when she worked in a high-needs middle school during her second year of teacher residency.

"I realized that middle school is a crucial point in a young person's life. Students are developing their identity," said Kerr. "It's a privilege to guide and support them as they figure out their voice. I get to prepare them for the next phase of their journey."

Kerr finds creative ways to connect literature with real-life experiences for her students, even in a virtual space. Many of her students remain in the district's Full Remote Academy. Her mindset continues to be of opportunity rather than deficiency.

Her students read Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall, which was the start of the school's pollinator garden. Students couldn't be in the building, so she livestreamed the release of the monarch butterflies they'd raised. Her students also participated in a symbolic migration. They created paper butterflies representing their identities, cultures and communities. The designs were sent to schools in central Mexico. This spring, they will receive creations from the students in México, representing the monarchs' return to the United States and Canada, where a new generation will be born. This rite of passage emphasized the beauty and universality of migration, which was the novel's theme.

"I am constantly asking myself, 'What can I do in this virtual space that I couldn't do in person?' One of my student's projects was to research and write about local activists. We were able to invite speakers to join us on Zoom. Many accepted because a Zoom was easier to fit into their schedules," said Kerr.

Kerr shared an exciting moment with her students when she found out she was one of the six Teacher of the Year finalists.

"I was told by my principal that she and our learning community superintendent would be dropping in to observe my class. That's normal, so I didn't think anything of it," said Kerr. "Then I started seeing two, five, 11 and then 25 of my colleagues come into the Zoom. I knew that wasn't normal."

Kerr said she felt special, loved and celebrated.

"Ms. Kerr is deeply committed to her students and the school community at large. Her lesson design is thoughtful of our student demographics, intentional in alignment to standards and focused on helping students see that they can be agents of change in their community," said Principal Jessica Savage.

Kerr has been the faculty adviser for the school's diversity club for five years. It's a role she treasures because students asked for it after reading The Laramie Project. Her commitment to student voices does not go unnoticed by her peers.

"Ms. Kerr is an outspoken advocate for all kids and is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion. She goes above and beyond for our students on so many fronts, from taking students to the opera to helping former students with their college applications," said teacher Kadean Maddix. "Ms. Kerr does an amazing job teaching the content, but I think her greatest gift is allowing students to find their voice through coursework and learning how to be better humans. I am so glad she is getting this honor. She deserves this and so much more."

Kerr keeps in touch with many of her former teachers.

"I had some of the best English teachers growing up. I still keep in touch with many of them. There is one who is 80 years old now. We have lunch from time to time," said Kerr. "She continues to make an impact on my life after all these years. That's what I want to do for my students."

This press release was produced by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.