Christine Borelli
Memphis Street Academy Charter School
Philadelphia, PA US
"If you find passion in it, follow it, fight for it, run after it, and in the end it will work out because you're never going to get bored from it-you're never going to think of it as work."
Career Roadmap
Christine's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
While in college, my professors all wanted me to go to suburban schools to get my teaching experience. Those communities and those students were not my area of focus, so I pushed them to allow me to go as far out as I could in order to get to the communities I felt passionate about. Part of it was rebelling slightly against the school system I was in and getting them to recognize that getting teaching experience in the inner city was useful.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
English Language and Literature, General
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor's Degree
Education, General
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Graduate Degree
Human Resources Development
Towson University
Graduate Degree
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Nova Southeastern University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Did not grow up wanting to be a teacher; was actually a tough student behavior-wise.
2.
Grew up in a rough area of Philadelphia where "you needed to be tough."
3.
Her mom gave up most of their luxuries so that they could go to private schools; knew their "way out" would be through education.
4.
Was sent to public school for summer school after failing algebra; was terrified every day, kids were fighting, no one paid attention in class.
5.
Started thinking, "what's going to happen" to those kids who were fighting, barely learning times tables in tenth grade; knew she wanted to teach.
6.
Memphis Street Academy was previously one of the lowest performing middle schools in Philadelphia, had highest numbers of assaults, drug incidents.
7.
Cleaned up the interior and exterior of the school so that students' learning environment felt like a "bright, healthy place," apart from bleak community.
8.
Says that like in a relationship, you'll know your job is your passion if it makes you feel "butterflies."
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
You can't get teaching experience at inner city schools.
How I responded:
While in college, my professors all wanted me to go to suburban schools to get my teaching experience. Those communities and those students were not my area of focus, so I pushed them to allow me to go as far out as I could in order to get to the communities I felt passionate about. Part of it was rebelling slightly against the school system I was in and getting them to recognize that getting teaching experience in the inner city was useful.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I am the first in my immediate family to attend college/university.
I grew up in a rough part of Philadelphia, where crime and violence were common. My mom sacrificed a lot in order to send us to a private Catholic School and not the regular public schools.