Jennifer Davis Ward:
Expanding her students' horizons
Jennifer Davis Ward
History B.A.; Teacher Education minor ‘08
7th/8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Christel House Academy, Indianapolis, IN
At first glance, it would appear that the soft-spoken, blond schoolteacher from central Illinois couldn’t be any more different from her low income, inner city, mostly minority students. But former UIS student leader and activist Jennifer Davis Ward sees herself in these youngsters.
“At UIS, we were required to learn a foreign language and taught to think outside the box – think globally,” says Ward, a first-year teacher at Indianapolis’ Christel House Academy.
"I like to inspire my own students to have a global perspective and not just think about their neighborhood and friends. Middle school children tend to be very inward-focused.”
That goes double for children with their own challenges--broken families, poverty, and even language barriers. Ward uses stories to get their attention, a skill she learned from a favorite history professor at UIS.
“Professor (Bob) McGregor told us that the past is very interesting when you tell it as a story rather than just give a timeline of facts to memorize,” says Ward. “I make sure I make it personal and share interesting anecdotes.”
Is it working? Ward points to a recent lesson on malaria that led to the students holding fundraisers to send mosquito nets to African children. Stories about the human impact on the environment worldwide prompted even more action.
“I’ve watched them become more passionate about 'going green,' recycling, conserving energy and convincing their families to do the same,” says Ward. “I think they’re learning to be a part of the solution instead of complaining about problems.”
Which, in the end, gives them much in common with their college-educated, middle-class teacher from Illinois, whose outreach at UIS included multiple trips to New Orleans to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
“The most rewarding part is seeing these kids enjoy learning,” says Ward. “I want to help them reach their greatest potential.”
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