Teaching Future Teachers

FACULTY PROFILE: DR. CLIO STEARNS + DR. MAGGIE CLARK

MCLA’S NEW EDUCATION PROFESSORS ON TEACHING FUTURE TEACHERS

As attitudes and practices around education change, so must educators— and the professors who educate them. Two new members of MCLA’s Education Department, assistant professors Maggie Clark and Clio Stearns, know this well. Clark, who grew up in Williamstown, went to Williams College, then spent time running an after-school program and teaching young children in California while earning her graduate degree from Sonoma State University and researching childhood social and emotional development. Her master’s thesis examined children’s understanding of the concept of peace, and how they define the term. She earned her Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz in 2016. Stearns earned her bachelor’s from Bryn Mawr and a master’s degree from the Bank Street College of Education, and worked as a teacher before completing her Ph.D. in education, curriculum and instruction from the University of New Hampshire in 2017. She taught as a Peace Corps volunteer, spent time teaching English language and literacy to children and adults, and taught undergraduate classes at University of New Hampshire before coming to MCLA. Both professors have seen a lot of passion from their students, and have been impressed with their input and reflections on how education works in the U.S. “I think people become teachers for one of two reasons: they had a great teacher they were inspired by, or they had a negative experience and they want to make change,” said Clark. “I think (teaching education) gives an opportunity to pause, but also to critically reflect: ‘What went well in my schooling? What went well I can carry on?’ When you’ve been a student for 12-13 years, and now you’re looking to become a teacher, there is an identity and perspective shift that needs to happen.” “My students are very honest about their ideas— and they want to get to work,” said Stearns. “I love the students here. We have an incredible mix of students with so many different experiences and interests and questions and openness—and a willingness to take risks.” Our view of education is inextricably linked to our views about society, and Clark and Stearns have seen that reflected in their classroom discussions; they each teach a section of MCLA’s Education and Society class, and end up comparing notes. Students have their own ideas and experiences around consent, autonomy, and societal balance of power; they also have ideas about standardized testing, textbooks, and student evaluation. “In a school, whatever is happening on a national stage is an education issue,” said Stearns. “Teaching is not politically neutral…There is going to be some imparting of your views and your way of being in the world. But it’s important to constantly explore your own biases and be ever more conscious of what you are bringing to the classroom, and how you’re impacting people around you.” “I think there is a continued awakening to new and different ways of teaching,” said Clark. “I so appreciate their curiosity. I find them very willing to engage in a critical reflection—critical thinking is often at the core of what we are trying to do here—and I think they come in with so many of those skills.”

MCLA’s two new education professors, Dr. Clio Stearns (left) and Dr. Maggie Clark (right), began teaching here in August 2019. They both report seeing a lot of passion from their students, and have been impressed with their input and reflections on how education works in the U.S.

THE CHANGE

When Ricardo Arroyo ’11 was at MCLA, majoring in history and reading extensively for his classes, he made a rule: “I was doing a lot of reading that wasn’t entertaining or fun—so for every book I read that way, I would read two fun books, which is a rule I keep to this day.”

It turned out to be a good rule for someone who would go on to study law at Loyola University in Chicago, become a public defender in Boston, and then become the first person of color to represent Boston’s Fifth District on the City Council—all activities that require quite a lot of reading, whether it’s cases, legislative proposals, or emails from district residents. Born in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood, Arroyo was raised in the Fifth District, and won the council seat by a large margin—700 votes—in 2019. In addition to being the first person of color to win the seat, he’s the third Latino councilor in the city’s history. The first and second? His father and brother, current Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix D. Arroyo, who was an at-large councilor earlier in his career, and Felix G. Arroyo, who was an at-large councilor from 2010-2014. While Arroyo was growing up, his father served on the Boston School Committee, founded the Latino Democratic Committee, served as U.S. Senator John Kerry’s Latin American Affairs Director, and on Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn’s cabinet, among other posts. “My parents wouldn’t let me think otherwise that I had every right to have a say in our city, that my voice was just as important as their voices,” he said. “That’s a certain type of privilege in a country where people of color can feel they don’t have a voice. You

MAKER

didn’t have to tell me I could do it, because I was seeing my father do it in front of me.” The young Arroyo decided to attend MCLA because it was as far from Boston as you could get without leaving Massachusetts. “I needed a place I could breathe,” he said. “It was my own little Hogwarts.” He already loved history, taking several AP classes in high school on American history, meaning he couldn’t take the equivalent credits at MCLA, which forced him to branch out. He ended up taking classes in Asian, Russian, and modern world history, among others, which broadened his perspective. “It’s important to know how we got here. There’s always an untold element to things we take as a given,” he said. “I love finding those elements. Doing those kinds of deep digs was a lesson I learned at MCLA.” At MCLA, Arroyo was inspired by then-President Mary Grant, who he still keeps in touch with, calling her “an absolute powerhouse.” Grant got to know him and regularly checked in on him when he was a student, which was meaningful. And Professor Paul Nnodim “introduced me to philosophy”—Arroyo almost added it as a second major because he took so many courses with Nnodim. After earning his J.D. from Loyola, Arroyo moved on to a lifelong goal of becoming a public defender. In his three and a half years defending Boston residents, “it was really clear that what happens in our systems is neither justice nor equitable,” he said. He served many people with insufficient cases, or cases based on constitutionally illegal searches, and met with people who were stuck in jail because they didn’t have the money to post bail. Those people would often end up losing their jobs, cars, or homes as a consequence of this— things that might have kept their lives stable after moving through the justice system. “Our criminal justice system destabilizes folks,” Arroyo said. “You take people who are not in stable systems or stable health—when you put them in the justice system it’s a shock to all that. They have to start all over again.” The experience motivated him to look into running for City Council as a way to work holistically on matters of equity and social justice. “From a macro level, I could work on policy, address bigger issues, and try to stabilize and help more lives,” he said. As a new councilor, Arroyo hit the ground running. In April, as Massachusetts shut

DECLARING RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS,

FOR ME AT LEAST, WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF CALLING THE SKY BLUE.”

—RICHARD ARROYO ’11

Arroyo (right) pictured with father Felix D. Arroyo

KNOW YOURSELF AND KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.”

down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he called a hearing to discuss inequities in how ventilators and ICU beds would be distributed in the event of a shortage. As chair of the council’s Public Health Committee, he wanted to make sure that unequal access to care—for rich and poor, for white residents and minority residents—did not play any role in deciding who gets medical care during the pandemic. And in March, in his first speech on the Council floor, he pushed for Boston to declare racism a public health crisis. When Boston Mayor Marty Walsh made the declaration in June, following nationwide protests against police brutality and racism fueled by the police killing of Minneapolis, Minn., resident George Floyd, Arroyo was interviewed extensively by the news media. “The Boston Public Health Commission had already found that racism was a leading driver of inequity and had an independent impact on all of the 26 social determinants that are used to determine what your health outcomes will look like,” he told WBUR in June. “Declaring racism a public health crisis, for me at least, was the equivalent of calling the sky blue.” “Many people of color have been gaslighted on the fact that racism is playing a role in their ability to progress, their health, their housing, their education,” he said. “People of color have talked about this and known about it forever. Now there is an official declaration that makes that real. What was happening before is it was a personal opinion.” Where Walsh and Arroyo differ is the solution to the problem. “My solution requires changing the system,” Arroyo said. “Systems create an outcome. If it repeatedly creates a racist outcome, then that system is racist. If you treat the outcome without treating the system, you’re never going to change those outcomes.” Arroyo’s original proposal called for the creation of an office independent of the mayor that would, similar to the Congressional Budget Office, look at legislative proposals in terms of data and determine whether those proposals would create racist outcomes—a check on the system. “That was the proposal. What we got instead was “Racism is a public health crisis,” which was the easy part: ‘We’re gonna give twelve million dollars to treat the symptoms of racism,’” he told WBUR. “Nothing about the systemic root cause of it. No changes to the system itself. A systemic solution for a systemic problem was completely taken out of that proposal.” Arroyo’s work to change these systems—done from within an established system—makes perfect sense to him as a history major and lifelong Boston resident. “We started as a country where Black Americans were 3/5 of a human being, did not include the right to vote for women or anyone who didn’t own land, did not include the civil rights that many people have fought and died for,” he said. Pushing these systems to change “are really the only thing I’ve seen work,” he said. “It moves slowly. It reforms itself slowly. But it happens. Everything positive this country does now, all the things that make me proud to be from this country, came from the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears of marginalized people forcing this system to answer to them. We are not where we need to be but we’ve moved light years ahead of where we were in the 1800s, the 1900s, the 1950s. We’ve pushed this country further toward the ideal it wants to hold itself up to.” And as a son of Boston—and a son of someone deeply invested in the Boston community and deeply involved in these systems—Arroyo knows that he is continuing long-established work. “As young folks, we often think something we’re doing is new,” he said. “But coalition-building is not a new idea. Finding commonalities between different groups to work together—when Blacks, Latinos, progressives, the LGBTQ community come together to fight for equality, that’s not new.” Because he has a sense of that history and context, “I can bring that to the work I do every day.” For young people looking to go into politics, the 32-year-old recommends first looking deeply within. “Ask yourself: Why do you want that? What’s driving you toward that goal?” he said. “For me, it’s because it’s the one place I can think of where I’m allowed to touch housing, immigration, schools, health care, public safety. I want to talk about racial and socioeconomic equity and justice.”

He also recommends getting involved in community work—for example, he spent his high school and college summers as a youth coach in his district. He got to know more of his neighbors, which enriched his perspective as a young man, then as a councilor. “No one of us is smarter than all of us,” he said, noting that he was paraphrasing something his father would tell him often as a child. “The closer you can get to all these different

Arroyo (right), pictured with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (center)

perspectives and experiences, the better it is for you in shaping the work you do. Be reflective of the places you want to make an impact.” “If you can talk about why, then you can have a vision of how you’d actually do in office. Know yourself and know what you believe in. Otherwise this is not a great place for you to be,” he said. “You likely won’t be very good without that compass.”

Ricardo Arroyo ’11 joined Michael Obasohan ’11 and Theresa O’Bryant ’86 in conversation for MCLA’s Third Annual Day of Dialogue. REPLAY THEIR CONVERSATION “MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY”

bit.ly/MCLAArroyo

THE FUND FOR MCLA

EARNING A DEGREE FROM MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS IS LIFE-CHANGING. JUST ASK OUR STUDENTS.

Though 2020 has brought tremendous change to all our lives, one thing remains constant at MCLA: our commitment to our students. Our faculty and staff continue to deliver a high-quality, affordable public liberal arts education in an environment that supports the development of intellectual and practical skills, promotes scholarship and inquiry, and challenges students to model personal, social, and civic responsibility.

WE KNOW YOU BELIEVE IN MCLA. Join us in making life-changing opportunities possible for current students by making your gift today. The MCLA Foundation will match your Fund for MCLA gift dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 for all gifts made by December 31, 2020! YOUR SUPPORT OF THE FUND FOR MCLA WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THESE PRIORITY AREAS:

4 DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP & PROGRAMMING 4 STUDENT EMERGENCY NEED 4 FOOD SECURITY 4 EQUITABLE INTERNSHIP ACCESS

MEET DREW THOMAS ’21

He is a design major completing an internship with MCLA’s Institute for Arts and Humanities (IAH). Through this internship, Drew has been designing social media graphics, posters, fliers, and other materials that promote the Institute’s mission. “I feel like I really get to branch out and showcase my style and skills,” said Drew. “I’m also interested in educating, talking about diversity issues, equity, and everything the IAH stands for.”

MEET KAYLEA NOCHER ’21

She is an Interdisciplinary Studies and Early Education major and future educator who created Berkshire Buddies, a group where kids of all ages can connect and interact with each other. Kaylea is “absolutely in love with education,” and is happy to be able to study at MCLA, one of the best schools for education right where she grew up.

MEET AJ BURTON ’22

He is an arts management and theatre double major. AJ chose MCLA “because it’s in a new environment I could explore and has a small, intimate community where I knew I could thrive academically and socially.” AJ is involved with the Nexxus Step Team and also serves as a campus Admission Ambassador.

THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS!

LEARN MORE + GIVE TODAY

bit.ly/Give2MCLA

ALUMNI 2020 HONOREES AWARDS

ALUMNI

The MCLA Alumni Association honors distinguished alumni and friends who have made outstanding contributions in public or community service or in service to the College. Congratulations to each of our distinguished honorees!

JAMES CASEY ’00 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD In recognition of an alumnus/na who has demonstrated a history of professional or community achievement and leadership.

CHARLOTTE DEGEN ’73 SERVICE TO THE COLLEGE AWARD In recognition of an alumnus/na, faculty or staff member, or friend of the College who has demonstrated a record of service and support to the Alumni Association and/or the institution.

MARK HALLORAN ’77 In recognition of a K-16 educator and alumnus/na who has shown dedication to the service and development of students and the profession as well as a commitment to innovative classroom practices, programming, extracurricular activities, and/or community work. BOBBY HOWLAND ’06 ALUMNI HUMANITARIAN AWARD In honor of an alumnus/na who has demonstrated a record of service to their local community or to the world at large.

KAITE ROSA ’10 BLUE & GOLD AWARD In recognition of an MCLA alumnus/na who graduated within the past decade from the College who has shown significant growth in their chosen profession as well as a commitment to supporting and serving as a role model to current and future students. This award was formerly OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD

titled the “Young Alumnus” Award.

MEG SKOWRON ’71 OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR EMERITUS AWARD In honor of a retired K-16 educator and alumnus/na who spent their career dedicated to the education and development of students and the profession.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO NOMINATE AN MCLA GRADUATE OR FRIEND OF THE COLLEGE FOR THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION’S 2021 AWARDS? Please contact Kate Gigliotti, Sr. Director of Constituent Engagement at kate.gigliotti@mcla.edu. READ INTERVIEWS WITH EACH OF THE 2020 ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES

bit.ly/MCLAawardees

READY TO SERVE

FIRST MCLA RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY COHORT ENTERS THE WORKFORCE

Madison Frost ’20 is enjoying her new job as a radiologic technologist in Connecticut—along with most of her radiologic technology cohort, almost all of whom have secured work since graduating in May. MCLA’s first radiologic technology graduates have worked hard to get to this point, facing the closure of Southern Vermont College, which originally housed their program before MCLA became the school’s official teach-out partner, and then a pandemic that caused MCLA’s spring semester to move to a remote format. Still, the program earned a 91% pass rate on its board exams this year. “This is fantastic, considering we had to go remote in March,” said Julie Walsh, assistant professor of radiology. “It’s definitely different than when I first started—I never thought I’d be having my first interview with a mask on. But it’s still welcoming,” Frost said of her job at Connecticut Orthopedics, where she floats to different offices to do radiology work. Madison Frost ’20 Earlier this year, Frost was awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), which recognizes one graduating student from each accredited program in radiologic sciences. It’s given to less than 5 percent of national radiology students. “The criteria for this award are academic excellence, clinical proficiency, teamwork

The graduates of MCLA’s Radiologic Technology cohort have almost all found work since graduating in May, and the program earned a 91% pass rate on its board exams this year. “This is fantastic, considering we had to go remote in March,” said Julie Walsh, assistant professor of radiology.

ALL THE PROFESSORS AND ALL THE CLASSES I TOOK

REALLY HELPED ME WITH THE JOB I’M IN NOW.” —MADISON FROST ’20

and professional ethics,” said Linda Lippacher, program director of radiologic sciences at MCLA. “Many of our graduates this year fit the criteria, so selecting just one was not an easy task.” Frost, who led the College’s radiology club and helped coordinate a fundraiser for each graduate to receive their own lead thyroid shield, an important tool in radiology work, said she appreciated the radiologic technology program’s clinical work as a way to get hands-on experience. The program has classroom and laboratory space at Berkshire Medical Center’s North Adams Campus. In addition to her work at BMC North, Frost was posted at two different hospitals for her clinical work—Southern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Vt., and Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y. “You can read a textbook and see how they do it, but until you’re doing it hands-on yourself, you’re not going to get a full understanding of what it’s like,” she said. Frost said she appreciated the classes she took and the faculty who taught them. “All the classes really prepared me,” she said. “All the professors and all the classes I took really helped me with the job I’m in now.”

Read more about MCLA’s Radiologic Technology program at bit.ly/RADTechMCLA.