In today’s world, with rapidly advancing technology and interconnectedness, a teacher’s role should be that of a guide, one who creates an environment where students’ can bring their own ideas into the classroom as a means to understand and contextualize abstract knowledge. Teachers should be willing to embrace a more holistic role for our students by providing a safe space for all of them to bring their whole beings and authentic selves into our classrooms.”
Rashmi’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Physics
Why Physics
“When I decided to go into teaching, I felt like physics was a natural fit, sitting on the intersection between my background in engineering, my love for science and technology, and my desire to serve my community. ”
Professional Experience
During her undergraduate studies, Rashmi’s first experience with teaching was as a volunteer working with students belonging to low socioeconomic groups at a government school in India. After completing her master’s degree from Cornell University, Rashmi worked as a research assistant at the Hood Visual Science Lab at Columbia University for three years. More specifically, she developed MATLAB-based image processing tools and reports to analyze images of the retina to detect glaucoma progression over time. Following her time at Columbia, she spent two years working as a private tutor, teaching English and social studies, while also volunteering as a free tutor for middle school students with the New York City-based educational non-profit, City Tutors. After the pandemic, Rashmi decided to make the shift to education permanent and enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at Montclair State University. There, she spent two years working as a teaching assistant for various levels of physics. Since 2022, Rashmi has worked within the Newark Teachers Project, an extension of the Transformative Education Network at Montclair State University, that focuses on social justice-oriented, anti-racist, and culturally relevant teaching practices. Rashmi will begin her first year of teaching physics at Technology High School in Newark, New Jersey, during the 2023–2024 school year.
Hobbies
In her free time, Rashmi enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction, as well as poetry, which she also writes. She watches YouTube video essays on film, art analysis, and progressive politics. She actively tries to learn more about resistance movements that have risen to fight against oppression of marginalized folks. She is passionate about mental health and has spent several years volunteering with national and international mental health and education organizations, including Crisis Text Line and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Academic Background
- Manipal University (Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering)
- Cornell University (Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering)
- Montclair State University (Master of Arts in Teaching)