Shannon Bertoni

I am a 5th year English and Drama teacher at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia. My 9th-11th grade students embody many adjectives that are quintessentially Philadelphian: bold, innovative, resilient, driven. They are deeply proud of who they are and where they come from; they are social, energetic, and connected to their communities. Both inside and outside of my classroom, I encounter students who are unafraid to question the world around them, excited to share their voices, and inspired to make change.
My students are engaged and thoughtful high schoolers who, despite many systemic obstacles, love to learn. These scholars attend a Title 1 school where 90% of students are African American and 30% of the population receives special education services. While Philadelphia's students are some of the best and brightest, the district itself can be at times...a little lacking. The students I encounter are often asked to use their creativity to circumvent issues that fall out of our locus of control. Subpar learning facilities, outdated or unusable materials, and a complete lack of resources are just a few of the myriad distractions from learning my students are expected to encounter and overcome each day. Despite these circumstances, we work every day to deepen our understandings of content, ourselves, and the world around us. I am a 5th year English and Drama teacher at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia. My 9th-11th grade students embody many adjectives that are quintessentially Philadelphian: bold, innovative, resilient, driven.... read more