West is happy to welcome the newest faculty staff member, Ms. Patel! Prior to coming to West, she has taught at numerous schools, including Back of the Yards College Prep School, Pilson Highschool, and Glenside Middle School. Ms. Patel initially started teaching at high schools in the city of Chicago, but later began teaching at Glenside for six years, making this her 11the year in the classroom! Ms. Patel then “grew a strong connection to the students of Glenside,” which made her transition to West easier because she gets to see her past students reappear in high school
During college at UIC, Ms. Patel was a Biochemistry major, but realized she wanted to be a teacher through a very unique experience. She was involved with an organization known as Peer Health Exchange. This organization exposed her to volunteering in a classroom setting. ”[She] got to engage with students and got to see that lightbulb moment in their head when they finally understood something. That was the moment [she] knew for sure that this is the setting [she] want[ed] to be in.” She wants to see that “aha moment when they finally understand something.” Ms. Patel discovered she wanted to specialize in history since “[She] always loved learning about [her] own history as well since [her] parents are from India” Ms. Patel believes that understanding history helps her understand more about herself and the world around her and she hopes to teach this idea to her students.
Ms. Patel decided to come to West since “West has a great reputation and sense of tradition”. Seeing her old students who went to Glenside before also made her transition easier since she saw many familiar faces. She also loved seeing them Improve in high school if they were “squirrelly in middle school and finally found a place they like in school” Ms. Patel teaches many classes at West including US Government and Politics, Sophomore Contemporary World History, and Junior and Senior Sociology.
Throughout this transition between schools, Ms. Patel has shown us that change can result in growth and with each step, by strengthening your confidence and continuing to achieve your goals.
