Pillar Spotlight #16: HEART in ACTion @ CMA's Transitional Kinder class!

Learn more about Ms. Cox and her amazing TK students! 

All about Juanisha Cox: Transitional Kinder Teacher @ CMA 
"My Vallejo roots run deep. I was born and raised here and I am very proud of that. While growing up in Vallejo, I received an enormous amount of love and support. I gained the confidence that I needed to believe that I could achieve anything I put my mind to. After graduating from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga. I  returned back home and began serving my community. Even with my mother being an early childhood educator, I never thought that my life’s journey would lead me into a classroom as an educator myself. That confidence that I received from growing up in Vallejo, is the  the same confidence that I use to walk into Caliber Change Makers Academy everyday to water the seeds of growth and learning that I have planted in my TK scholars!"


A recent interview with Juanisha: 
What is your favorite thing about being a teacher Caliber: ChangeMakers Academy?
“I want to say that the  growth of my students- daily, weekly, monthly brings me a lot of joy. There is constant growth in TK. In regards to the school, I would say that this is the most diverse group of people that I have worked with in many ways, not just race or age, but lifestyle and hobbies- very much like a melting pot!”


Why do you like teaching Transitional Kindergarten?
“Honestly, I was interviewing for 4th or 5th grade, and so the roles were already filled and TK was the only option. At first, we had kinder camp, these are the  first 3 days before school opened and I was nervous and had no idea what to expect. I have been around children, but not 17 little 4 year olds without their parents, this was a little scary and I was stranger to them. Now I love each and every one of them! They are each their own individual person and I will teach it again- that is my return request to teach TK again.”


What has been your favorite lesson or memory with your students?  
"These were during our heritage months (Latinx and Black History) - Their ability to grasp historical figures. I thought about how am I going to change these books that are not TK friendly and how am I going to get them to buy in to people who are judges, protesters, or how will they understand segregation. To my surprise, they were able to and they remembered who sat on the bus because it was unfair. They can explain to you why it was unfair in their own language. They refer to Sonya Sotomayor as the “Momma Judge.”


If you can relate the work you do to one of our pillars, which would it be?
“I would say Heart and Act, you can’t have one without the other to help with change! When I think about change, it’s not just protesting, but changing how students feel about school or what they are learning. I am their first instructor that is able to plant the love of learning and possibly create a change for the rest of their lives. I get to be the first person that can steer them towards that direction. The Heart part of it comes where you meet them where they are - it takes heart and drive change.”

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What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you
“I love ocean animals! I went to Hawaii for my 30th birthday. I went shark diving, no cage-- and now I am ready to tackle a great white,  while I’m in a cage though.”