Kevin Dalton

Back to All English, Secondary Education Spotlights

2020

Current job title and employer and briefly describe what it is you do: I am currently a Teach for America Corps member teaching ESL English at Hope High School in Providence, RI. I teach ninth grade core English to Multilingual Learners and English Language Development to level one multilingual learners in grades 9-12.

Academic experience at Saint Michael's College help prepare you for your career: The SMC Education department prepared me to not only effectively teach and plan for all students, regardless of learning differences and learning needs but also to advocate for students. Working in an urban school, particularly during a pandemic, means that students need teachers to advocate for them now more than ever. The SMC Education department always looked at teaching from a student-first mindset and that is something I continue to strive for in my teaching practice. The English department exposed me to myriad diverse and engaging texts that I can now share with my students across all levels. The Sociology department emphasized the importance of acknowledging the importance of the intersectionalities of identities and gave me unique opportunities to apply my Sociology research into an Education-focused research project.

Favorite memory or class from your time studying at St. Mike’s: My favorite class was my first-year seminar: The Social Construction of Humanness. Co-taught by Professor Doyle and Professor Bozzone, this class encouraged us to use science to explain social phenomena and vise versa. Our lab science requirement was fulfilled by working with the Burlington Boys and Girls Club to put on a science fair. The best part was our final exam… yes, really! We traveled as a class to Saint Anne’s Shrine and spent the night/morning cooking for one another, engaging in high-level academic discussion, and playing a lot of cards. It was a class full of learning and authentic learning.

Other information you would like to share or advice for incoming or current students: My advice to Saint Mike’s students, current and future, is to enjoy every minute of it! There is absolutely no place in the world like One Winooski Ave, and it will all be over before you know it. Join that club, intramural, or volunteer opportunity! Take that extra class! Take advantage of every single thing that St. Mike’s offers before and after graduation!