March 2020 | #IAMSHAKER Employee Spotlight: Nicole Patterson
Dr. Nicole Patterson is a fourth-grade teacher at Boulevard who strives to provide an equitable education for all her students. Dr. Patterson was the first to launch MAC Sister Scholars at the elementary level—today, the program is in place at all five elementary schools. Read more about Dr. Patterson and why the Rocky film series is her favorite:
How long have you been a teacher?
This is my seventh year in the District. But I’ve been teaching elementary school for 20 years. I’m originally from Cincinnati, where I taught in Cincinnati Public Schools for 14 years before I moved to Cleveland.
How is Cincinnati different than Cleveland?
There’s more cultural diversity here, which I like, but what I miss about Cincinnati is the mentality that you can go wherever you want to go—here in Cleveland, there’s a big east side-west side thing with crossing the river. In Cincinnati, it wasn’t like that at all. It’s like there’s almost a betrayal if you cross sides, in many ways here.
What was your school experience like growing up in Cincinnati?
I went to the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati—it’s part of Cincinnati Public Schools. It’s kind of like “Fame.” It was a great experience. I had white friends and Black friends and the majority of us were from working-class families. Most of us had jobs after school and throughout the summers. During my senior year in high school, I was recruited by Miami University as a musician, and received a full scholarship. I was excited to go, but my dad warned me that the white students I would meet at Miami were not going to be like the white students I’d known at SCPA. I didn’t know what he meant until I got there. I was the only Black person in my education classes and all my peers thought of me as a representative for all Black people. There were a lot of students who assumed I was at Miami on an athletic scholarship. It was eye-opening for me.
How did that experience shape the teacher you are today?
I teach through the lenses of race,class, and gender. Even at the fourth-grade level, students can understand these concepts. I recently did a professional learning session on using culturally relevant strategies. One thing I encourage my colleagues to do is to examine themselves and ask how they can be the best teacher for each child. The more we can relate our teaching to culture and not just ethnicity, the more success we have with students. That’s the kind of thing that hooks a child.
You’re also the MAC Sister Scholars advisor at Boulevard. What’s that been like?
I started it at the elementary level at Lomond in 2016, when I was there. Then, when I came to Boulevard, I brought it here. My co-leader and I focus on leadership, community service and sisterhood. I talk with the girls about being strong Black women, loving themselves, their hair, their complection, and bodies. We tell them that they don’t have to look past the women in their family to see examples of other strong Black women. We meet, we talk, we learn leadership skills, socialize, and learn about how we can teach and show others our pride in Blackness through presentations and service. Our mentoring is more of a one-on-one and sometimes, group mentoring. I try to be a strong role model for them. Considering there aren’t many black female teachers in our building, we try to be there as support for our Mac Sisters.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I love to be by the water. Every year, on my birthday, I like to be by the ocean. Also, I have a sweet tooth, so I love to bake.
What’s your favorite movie?
I’m a huge Rocky Balboa fan. I have the box sets for all the movies on VHS and on DVD. My favorite is Rocky IV. I just love underdog movies. I remember when I was in college and I needed something to get me going, I’d pop in a Rocky movie. I just loved that Rocky always overcame odds, he came from a gritty neighborhood, he never let money get to his head and he was always proving himself. when I realized that Sylvester Stallone wrote all of the Rocky films, it made it even better for me.
What do you enjoy most about Boulevard?
It’s such a peaceful place and we have a great leader. Mr. Robinson is so friendly and he gives feedback in such a kind and uplifting way. The people here are easy to work with and we all want what’s best for our students.