Cc Teacher Highlight: LaQuisha Hall

LaQuisha’s energy fills a room the minute she walks in and flashes you her big, warm smile.

We first met LaQuisha back in April at one of our Curriculum for the Culture events in Baltimore. We were so excited to meet her after following her awesome Instagram and Twitter account (@MrsHallScholars) that showcase her life as a teacher and her many talented scholars.

LaQuisha has been teaching ELA to 6th-12th graders for the past 16 years. In this time she has helped over 100 scholars become published authors, founded Queendom TEA, is a ProjectLit leader, and won Baltimore Teacher of the Year in 2018. Last week we sat down with this dynamic educator, before the back-to-school craze hits, and asked her a few questions about her teaching practice.

What is one thing you wish your students knew about you?

I must say that there isn’t a lot that my scholars don’t know about me… I share a lot of my life because I believe this is how relationships between teachers and scholars are formed — when they see you as human and when they know you have had to overcome challenges just like them. One thing that I always share with them is that I am survivor of sexual abuse and domestic violence, something that I was silent about for years and as a result caused me much detriment. I am not afraid of filing a report to help my scholars if they are experiencing the same challenge because I wished I had a teacher who would have done this for me. While my scholars are initially shocked because they often say I don’t “look like” I would have experienced this, they understand that they can let their hair down and relax in my class because we are going to overcome challenges TOGETHER.

What is the one teacher tool or resource you can’t live without?

A PLANNER — what is life without a planner, lol! I still like to plan on paper. My favorite is the Erin Condren Teacher Planner where I actually handwrite my lessons, grades, parent conferencing data and more. This planner is big enough to store all of this and more. It also comes with cute stickers!

What is one cool thing you’re working on outside the classroom?

I am an artist and I love creating! I paint, created mixed media pieces, decorate my planner, brush letter, bible journal and more! I am preparing for my second art show and I am so excited. This has been quite a journey and I am enjoying each moment.

What has been your proudest moment as a teacher and what has been your most challenging?

Of course I am very proud of becoming the 2018 Teacher of the Year for Baltimore City Schools. What I am even more proud of is what I accomplished that year — by far, it was one of my busiest as I was asked to speak to different groups and attend a variety of events. However, none of this halted my scholars from finding a love for reading! I spent the summer collecting 100 new books suggested by Project Lit. Instead of reading only 4 books mandated by the curriculum, scholars were reading up to 10 books independently by the end of the school year! I was so excited that I treated the top 20 readers to a party bus ride to lunch as a reward (sponsored by Borden Transportation).

What is challenging is for me is losing scholars. Over the past year, 6 of my former scholars have been killed in the streets of Baltimore. I am an unyielding advocate for the positivity that occurs in this city, but I find it hard at times to push forward with the megaphone when my scholars are taken so young. I have maintained my hope, but I certainly have to keep myself grounded in my faith in order to keep moving forward. I have used art to commemorate their lives, forever.

Make sure to follow LaQuisha and her scholars @mrshallscholars for more inspiration all year long.

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