Danielle Chin '25 | Celebrating Identity Through Education

Initially uncertain about her path, Danielle knew only that she wanted to work with children.

"I loved that as an educator, I would be teaching our future leaders, our future politicians, even our future teachers," Danielle reflects. Her passion for education is personal, rooted in her own experiences where culture and identity weren't always celebrated in classrooms. This observation inspired her mission as an educator: to create spaces where students can find pride in themselves.

Having completed pre-practicum work at the Richard J. Murphy K-8 School, Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary, and Holy Name Parish School, Danielle is now student-teaching at the Murphy School in a Sheltered English Immersion first-grade classroom. Her ELL licensure training, which she's pursuing alongside her elementary education major, has proven invaluable in supporting the linguistic needs of her students.

Danielle credits two professors with shaping her educational philosophy. Professor of Education Dr. Christine Leighton's literacy methods class equipped her with practical skills that alleviated the stress of lesson planning and prepared her for the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). "I love that everything she teaches I can apply in my career," says Danielle.

Dr. Lisa Schneier introduced Danielle to the concept of "mirrors and windows"—a popular literacy framework in which students discover materials that both reflect their identities (mirrors) and offer insights into others' lives (windows). Dr. Schneier encouraged extending this beyond books, showing how students themselves can be mirrors and windows for each other through their shared experiences and diverse perspectives. This approach became the foundation for Danielle's senior distinction project on celebrating culture in the classroom.

The reality of teaching brought unexpected lessons. "I had to learn that everything didn't always go the way you planned, and it's OK," Danielle admits. Time management became crucial, as did forming personal connections with students. "Teaching is a two-way street, a give and take. We are both learning so much from each other."

With graduation approaching, Danielle plans to remain in the Boston Public School system. Her experience studying abroad in South Korea has also kindled interest in international teaching opportunities. Whichever path she chooses, Danielle stands ready to create classrooms where every child's culture and identity are celebrated.