L-R: Nia (9), Joseph, Noelle (3), and Shantasia.
Shantasia Best is a 4th grade teacher in the Bridgeport Public Schools district. She graduated from Western Governors University with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Elementary Education. But, of course, there is much more to her story than those milestones.
Bridgeport Public Schools, the largest district in the state, closed all in-person classes and moved to online-only learning on November 23rd. This difficult decision came as COVID-19 cases spiked in Bridgeport and across the state, prompting school districts to grapple with their ability to safely host in-person classes as the virus spreads. All Bridgeport students have been provided with a device to use for remote learning and teachers trained for online classes. Teachers report to their school buildings to teach online from there, but the buildings remain closed to the public. Schools also provide to-go meals daily for students.
Whether remotely or in-person, teachers like Shantasia become impromptu social workers for their students, directing some families to food banks, acting as grief counselors for those who had family members die of COVID-19, and helping pupils work through their feelings of anxiety, depression and isolation. It’s also likely that for teachers with big souls like Shantasia’s, concern for one’s students comes at a cost to themselves.
“It was always my hope to serve communities similar to my own. I am very pleased that I can say I am indeed doing just that. In 2018, I started my career as an Instructional Interventionist in Norwalk. I was later given the opportunity to teach 4th grade in Norwalk Public Schools. I was given the opportunity to teach in Bridgeport in 2019, and I’ve been enjoying teaching in Bridgeport ever since,” Shantasia shared.
“I first realized my love for teaching children when working for Carver as a high school student. Running Carver’s Dance and Step teams gave me a foundation for teaching. Dance and Step are creative outlets that help me to connect to my students.”
Shantasia is currently working toward earning a graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Arkansas State University.
“While I am proud of these achievements, I am most proud of being able to balance the demands of my career and the needs of my students with the joys and needs of my family.” Shantasia’s growing family (in the photo above) consists of Nia (9), her husband Joseph, and Noelle (3).
Coincidentally, Shantasia joined the Carver community in the 4th grade, in our CASPER after-school program at the Carver Community Center. And then she never left until leaving for college. During her high school years, in addition to teaching Dance and Step, Shantasia worked as a Carver summer camp counselor and as the gym coordinator at the Carver Community Center during each school year.
“Those were some of the best years of my life, because Carver as a community is a true family. Up until a few years ago, I stopped by Carver a few times each week, but my schedule eventually became too crowded. I miss regularly visiting and seeing the kids there. I think what I always loved most about Carver was being able to learn about and value my history, being engulfed in a nurturing culture with people who genuinely love and care for you.”
Most educators go into teaching not for fame or fortune but because of a passion to connect. Shantasia offers herself to her students — her energies, her gifts — with open-hearted generosity.
In the midst of this pandemic, Shantasia offers her students hope and a sense of connectedness that is hard to find elsewhere. She builds on the truth that beneath the broken and threadbare surface of our society there remains a hidden wholeness.
Carver alumni are also our heroes. They take on impossible jobs and stay with them for the long haul because they live by a standard that is more important than mere effectiveness. The name of that standard may best be described as faithfulness — faithfulness to their gifts, faithfulness to their perception of the needs of the world, and faithfulness to offering their gifts to whatever needs are within your reach. For Shantasia, her faithfulness is to her students and her own young family.
“My advice for the next generation of Carver kids would be to keep pushing! You will not fail until you stop trying. And to stay in touch with the Carver family. it’s a community and family well worth keeping in touch with.”