The Citizen Schools’ Catalyst program is known for student hands-on experiential learning, teacher professional development, volunteer STEM industry mentors, and student assessments. Many volunteer career mentors say they would volunteer for Citizen Schools again. They revere the connections they make with students and teachers, the skills they hone, and the new perceptions they develop regarding learning unit topics and hands-on learning approaches. 

Jeff Mysel, a volunteer career mentor, works in advertising for Google. This was his first year volunteering through the Catalyst program; however, he has been volunteering with Citizen Schools for four years. Jeff was curious about what active classroom engagement could look like through virtual learning. He was matched with Stuart Whitney, a Catalyst Math and Science teacher from West Somerville School in Somerville, MA, and his 6th-grade students. Stuart was also intrigued and concerned about the remote learning model for his students; however, he found successful ways to peak his student’s interests and engagement in the subject matter. 

Jeff, Stuart, and their students completed the Climate Change curricula unit. According to both Jeff and Stuart, this is where the fun began. Students were asked to create memes (pop culture images that have meaning that is acquired and passed rapidly among internet users), a short video, and a tweet to bring climate change awareness to the modern-day citizen. This content was also intended to inspire action, to get friends and family to DO something about climate change. Stuart says that his students were excited to create a messaging campaign about what they were learning. Stuart and Jeff shared that they witnessed their students create high-quality work to share with their school community.

“It was something to be proud of for many of them,” Jeff said. 

When asked what they both liked about working with each other, Jeff and Stuart had rave reviews and huge smiles. Stuart commented fervently on Jeff’s flexibility while working in a virtual classroom with students noting that it was experimental time for the “in-class” experience. “There were some things that worked and some didn’t go according to plan,” Stuart laughed while reflecting. “But through it all, Jeff never lost his sense of humor or willingness to jump in anyway and get some work done,” Jeff states he was impressed by the students’ classroom etiquette. He noted that Stuart was intentional as a teacher and “had specific and simplified goals and objectives for each week.” Jeff stated that Stuart’s intentionality helped him land perfectly in place to collaborate.

Citizen Schools helps all students thrive in school and beyond through hands-on learning and career mentors. Join us in building the capacity of teachers, schools, volunteers and parents to deliver real-world experiential learning into the classroom. Get more information on volunteering or becoming a Catalyst teacher. If you have questions about our Catalyst units, please contact us at annayu@citizenschools.org.