Prove Myself

“Representation matters and being able to see yourself represented at every level is really important.” Mrs. Laurice Jones Assistant Professor of English #Shoutout to the community colleges! This week, we are joined by Assistant Professor of English, Mrs. Laurice Jones, a Chicagoland native with educational experience in Illinois, Texas, and South Korea. Now stationed in Germany with her military spouse, Laurice shares how her K-8 experience was shaped by women of color, the problem of phantom counselors in school, and why she’s had to prove herself (to herself AND others!) throughout her extremely rewarding career, thinking outside of physical borders to explore the unknown. “Tell them we are rising.” Laurice reflects on the diverse experiences she’s had in classrooms across the globe, and how she’s grown her confidence over the years. She speaks of the pride she has for working at community colleges, the impact of meaningful professional development throughout your teaching career, and the long lasting influence of Black educators. AND, she speaks a word to anyone who is sweating through their shirts as they combat imposter syndrome on their journey.