This year, Friends Select has hired three new teachers in the Upper School, including history teacher Leia Robinson. With over four years of teaching experience, she is very excited to join the Friends Select community.
Leia currently teaches ninth grade World History, the required year-long history class for all ninth grade students. She also teaches Introduction to Psychology, a history elective open to all students but mainly taken by upperclassmen. “I try to set up engaging lessons that pull from students’ prior knowledge and skills to push students into deeper inquiry of the given topic,” said Leia. “I aim to design lessons that strategically incorporate student voice and choice, where students are agents of their learning experience.”
Leia attended Bryn Mawr College and has over four years of teaching experience, this year being her fifth. She was inspired to become a teacher after her own experiences in education. As one of the only students of color in her school, she often experienced microaggressions from both teachers and students, making it harder for her to speak up in class. “I was always nervous about people’s misconceptions or assumptions about me in the learning environment. I felt more comfortable being quiet and blending in.” Leia stated. “Ultimately, this experience motivated me to become an educator so I could create a learning environment that empowered students in their identity and to propel their learning further.”
According to Leia, she “bounced around from school to school” since the beginning of her teaching journey. She had always sought to find a school with strong academics and a community that cares about its students as individuals. She believes that Friends Select has those qualities, which ultimately drew her to its community. Leia is excited to learn more about Friends Select’s traditions and meet more people in the community. She hopes to become more familiar with the school’s systems by the end of the year.
Aside from teaching, Leia loves to travel both in and out of the country. She also enjoys running, especially along the Schuylkill River.
“The advice I have for students is to push yourself to be outgoing. Don’t be afraid to speak up and try new things,” said Leia. “I do not remember the grades I got in my high school classes, but I do remember the fun sports teams, clubs, and experiences I had with my peers.”
