Lawyer Leaves Career to Create Classroom Change
After job change, Alan Tracey joins the English department for the return to in-person instruction.
By Ariella Just Milender
After job change, Alan Tracey joins the English department for the return to in-person instruction.
By Ariella Just Milender
As schools return to in-person instruction, students are reunited with friends and teachers, however there is also a large wave of new attendees at school, including teachers, due to the staffing shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, this year Pioneer’s English department has added four new English teachers to the staff. Alan Tracey, English 1-2 and ERWC teacher, is one of four new teachers.
Although this is his first year teaching, he has been able to incorporate many skills from his former career as a lawyer.
“I have this kind of corporate-sort-of-lawyer experience which tends to be different than other people’s, but I guess I’ve seen first hand how important it is to be a good communicator and then if you’re a good communicator that is going to serve you well no matter what you do,” Tracey said.
These skills have been exemplified in his teaching style. Hailing from a law background, communication has been key in his classroom environment.
“My degree was in business, but as a lawyer, I’ve done a lot of reading, writing and communicating and so that’s how I wound up doing this,” Tracey said.
Establishing the importance of communication in the classroom, Tracey has been very open to conversation in his classroom environment.
Students, such as Matt Coelho, 9, agree that Tracey has created a class environment that is very open to conversation.
“He always asks questions and lets us chime in when necessary,” Coelho said. “He's very engaging as a teacher and always has something new for us to do. He always listens to our thoughts on the lessons and is very receptive to feedback.”
Roma Smith, 9, also agrees that Tracey has welcomed conversation in the classroom.
“I’d say the teaching style focuses around conversation, which opens up room for different perspectives and ideas,” Smith said.
As the year goes on, Tracey said he will continue to learn and become increasingly comfortable in his new role.
“I used to joke that, as a new teacher it’s all-new, so it’s not like I was all set in my ways and then we have to go offline, and then we came back into the classroom, it’s all-new,” Tracey said.
Specifically, this year Pioneer’s English department has added four new English teachers to the staff. Alan Tracey, English 1-2 and ERWC teacher, is one of four new teachers.
Although this is his first year teaching, he has been able to incorporate many skills from his former career as a lawyer.
“I have this kind of corporate-sort-of-lawyer experience which tends to be different than other people’s, but I guess I’ve seen first hand how important it is to be a good communicator and then if you’re a good communicator that is going to serve you well no matter what you do,” Tracey said.
These skills have been exemplified in his teaching style. Hailing from a law background, communication has been key in his classroom environment.
“My degree was in business, but as a lawyer, I’ve done a lot of reading, writing and communicating and so that’s how I wound up doing this,” Tracey said.
Establishing the importance of communication in the classroom, Tracey has been very open to conversation in his classroom environment.
Students, such as Matt Coelho, 9, agree that Tracey has created a class environment that is very open to conversation.
“He always asks questions and lets us chime in when necessary,” Coelho said. “He's very engaging as a teacher and always has something new for us to do. He always listens to our thoughts on the lessons and is very receptive to feedback.”
Roma Smith, 9, also agrees that Tracey has welcomed conversation in the classroom.
“I’d say the teaching style focuses around conversation, which opens up room for different perspectives and ideas,” Smith said.
As the year goes on, Tracey said he will continue to learn and become increasingly comfortable in his new role.
“I used to joke that, as a new teacher it’s all-new, so it’s not like I was all set in my ways and then we have to go offline, and then we came back into the classroom, it’s all-new,” Tracey said.