Being a teacher lets Davis 'see the fruits of her labor'

Rhonda Davis with the Barbara Jordan Career Center said she realized while working as a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigator that her compassion belonged in the classroom.

“As fulfilling as child protection was, my reach was not hitting its target where I could see the fruits of my labor,” she told the Houston Daily. “As an educator, I have 180 days to hit my target and that target is building a student’s self-esteem, confidence and pride like my fourth grade teacher Nellie Anderson, my sixth grade teacher Karolyn Bourgeois and my 11th grade political science teacher Jacqueline Arscott did.”

Those teachers installed a sense of confidence in her, Davis said, that she wants to pass onto her students and that building a trusting relationship with her students creates a successful learning environment.  

“I model an optimistic and uplifting demeanor, so the atmosphere of the classroom becomes a safe and calming space free from negative energy. Trust in my opinion is reciprocal to student performance yielding expected outcomes," she said. "When a student knows you care and have genuine concern for their well-being, they will perform at their best by giving 110% effort in the classroom.”

The Barbara Jordan Career Center is a public vocational school center at 5800 Eastex Freeway (U.S. Highway 59) and is part of the Houston Independent School District, according to Wikipedia.

When a student is struggling socially it directly affects their academics and she makes the appropriate referral for the student to get the support they need, Davis said.

“Once the students’ needs are identified I take a holistic approach in the classroom by incorporating morning meetings or talking circles where students can share matters going on in their lives with supportive peers,” she said.

The center transitioned from a career magnet school to a regional career hub in 2015 with students spending half the day taking academic classes at their home school and then spending the other half at the center taking real-world experience classes, according to Wikipedia.

Davis said parents can support their child by implementing a space for doing homework, setting a daily bedtime, restricting phone access, conducting backpack checks every other day and letting children read the newspaper, electronic readers, books and magazines.  

The community can help the school by assessing the career goals and needs of students so students will be prepared for summer internship opportunities, she added.

“The community can partner with Barbara Jordan Career Center by providing financial support to sponsor student and parent activities," Davis said. "In addition, the community can engage with our campus as volunteers and mentors for the student body.” 

Houston ISD states that students are eligible to take classes at the center beginning in their 11th grade year if they are from Furr, Heights, Houston, Kashmere, North Forest, Northside, Washington, Wheatley and Yates.