Relay New Orleans Resident Spotlight: Ayanna Bridges

What inspires you to do the work that you do?
I am inspired by the very notion or idea that my students (residents of New Orleans, LA), when given the right tools and encouraged to meet their full potentials, will some day break barriers and exceed their life long goals. Without a doubt, they will be "world changers."

How has Relay helped you to become a more impactful teacher?
Relay Graduate School of Education has helped me to become a more impactful teacher by providing innovative techniques that has helped me to build successful relationships with my students and families, assess and monitor data, anticipate possible misconceptions in a lesson, adjust and monitor lessons, set rigorous goals that all student can achieve, effectively execute tier 2 & 3 interventions and create a classroom culture that is safe and nurturing.  Without Relay, I would not be the teacher I am today.

What do you love about teaching in New Orleans?
The things that I love about teaching in New Orleans is the culture and community.  New Orleans is truly a melting pot and I get an opportunity to be a part of a community that is continually evolving.  

Tell us one word that you would use to describe your students. What inspires or resonates with you about them the most?
One word that describes my students is, "Trailblazers." What resonates with me about them most is their grit. No matter what they are faced with, they show time and time again that all things are possible when you put your mind to it.  I am constantly reminded that they are paving the way for greatness. "Blazing to and through college."

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