S1E20: More than a Job: A Young Educator’s Transformational View on Teaching as a Vocation (Morrise Quierolo, Fairfax County)

How does one powerful, personal relationship fundamentally change a teacher's calling and redefine success for their students?In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby sits down with Morrise "Mr. Q" Quierolo, a civics and AVID teacher at Liberty Middle School in Fairfax County. Guided by the belief that education is a vocation and a mission, Morrise is building his career by shaping classrooms rooted in belonging, empowerment and hope.From his unexpected start in Teach For America, which took him across the country to a challenging school environment in Phoenix, Morrise discovered a life-changing truth: meaningful relationships are what truly transform students. And it was a letter from a struggling student that ultimately sealed his calling in education and shifted him away from a planned law school route.Back home in Fairfax, Morrise now teaches at one of Virginia’s most diverse middle schools, where he champions student leadership, builds an AVID “family,” and helps kids, especially those with learning differences or challenging home lives see possibilities they’ve never been shown. His partnership with Think Big for Kids has played a key role in that work, opening doors to real-world experiences that expand opportunity and spark imagination.In this episode, you’ll learn:●     How AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) builds student empowerment, leadership, and college-and-career readiness.●     How Think Big’s hands-on programming such as career showcases, field trips and industry workshops expand opportunity.●     How students from financially disadvantaged or challenging backgrounds often build unique resilience and skills that can be turned into strengths for helping others.●     How early exposure to mentors, careers and community impact can shift a child’s entire trajectory.Through his own journey of service and powerful student letters, Morrise reveals what happens when the education system shifts: students who feel seen, supported and believed in unlock a future they never thought possible.Links:Educate Fairfax: https://www.educatefairfax.org/Fairfax County Public Schools: https://www.fcps.edu/Fairfax County Economic Development Authority: https://fairfaxcountyeda.org/Think Big for Kids: https://thinkbigforkids.org/More about Morrise QuieroloMorrise Quierolo: https://libertyms.fcps.edu/staff/morrise-queiroloAbout host Jennie TrebyJennie Treby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-treby/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.