My name is Chelsea Achane, and I’ve been with YES Prep Eisenhower for two years. This is my sixth year in education. I started off teaching pre-K and shortly after made the jump to ninth grade.

I’ve taught pre-AP ninth-grade English, English I, English III, and these last two years I’ve taught English II. English is my true passion!

Black History Month is extremely important to me, but I don’t just utilize these 28 days to recognize the pertinence of black history!

I think it’s important for my students to know that, in the subject that I teach, I am a minority. When you go to different schools, English/ELA is typically taught by white teachers. The stigma of people of color not knowing how to effectively read and write is REAL!

It's critical for my students to see a black teacher in the classroom doing great things—and challenging students academically—and it's critical for fellow educators as well.

I emphasize this importance, and I also teach them about those who paved the way for teachers like me.

I am originally from Louisiana, from a very small town outside Shreveport. I moved to Houston when I was about six years old and can’t imagine living anywhere else. I went to Prairie View A&M University and got my degree in English. 

I love English; I love literature; I love to read. But I didn’t know the career path I wanted to take, so I decided to get a degree in English and minor in Behavioral and Political Science. At one point, my plan was to go straight to law school upon graduation. Instead of jumping straight in, however, I took a temporary role working as a substitute teacher at a local elementary school.

When the pre-K teacher I was substituting for left suddenly, the school director encouraged me to head the class and, while I did love the kids, I realized it wasn’t the right content area fit.

I decided to merge my passion for English with the teaching career path and went to tutor older children in English/Language Arts (ELA) at a middle school. 

The students I was tutoring did so well on their state standardized performance test that the assistant principal for ELA recruited me into the classroom. I taught there for three-and-a-half years before beginning at YES Prep.  

At first, I was hesitant to make the move, but at the same time, I wanted to be fully developed and pushed in my career. At my former school, I was told I was a great teacher, but I never really received feedback on what made me great or how I could get better.

I knew I was ready to do more, but I didn’t know who could help me push forward. That’s when I decided to reach out to people I knew who were going through the YES Prep teacher pipeline. Their feedback was, “If you are craving teacher development, this is the place for you.” 

I’m glad I made the switch because I have grown tremendously these past two years.  

Eisenhower’s Dean of Instruction and my direct supervisor push me to my full potential. Before the school year began, we sat down together and set my goals—not only for me, but for my students and where I wanted them to be before the end of the school year. 

Throughout the school year, we meet every week to review my goals and make sure I am on track. The most refreshing thing about teaching at YES is knowing that there are so many people invested in my success. No matter if they are part of leadership or part of the instructional team, everyone makes themselves available to help.

My teacher friends and I agree that, in this profession, you can put your ideas to work. If you want to feel heard and use your voice, I encourage you to consider teaching. In my experience, school districts are nurturing environments that help you develop individually and create a family-oriented community that feels like home.

As a teacher, you’ll become a better teammate, person and community member. It’s helped me become a better mom.

If you, too, are looking to challenge yourself professionally, like I was, I encourage you to make the leap!

Start by taking a quick quiz to determine if the teaching career is right for you.

The next generation should consider teaching to pave the way! We live in a time when more people of color must enter classrooms to give a voice to the next generation.