Ms. Lafazia joined Alma’s Frederick Douglass Campus as an Associate Teacher during the 2020-21 school year.
What made you decide to join the Crew at Alma?
I love the crew culture and the idea of high demand and high support! I love being pushed to do my best so I’m happy there’s so many people behind you to support that.
What do you hope to contribute to Alma?
I hope to facilitate and environment where kids can feel safe, calm, peace, excitement for learning and most importantly, seen and represented. You truly have no idea what any scholar, teachers, crew member, etc, has going on at home, so creating a safe haven at Alma where we can have fun, learn, and relax, is very important to me.
What teacher made a difference in your life, and how?
There are too many to count, but some of the few would be my fourth grade teacher, my 9th grade ELA, and my 9th grade social studies teachers. Fourth grade was the first time I had a male teacher and I was TERRIFIED! I grew up fearing men, but he created such a peaceful environment where we all came together and felt like family, it truly changed my life. My high school teachers were some of the first people who made me believe I was a gifted human being, and that I had many talents to utilize and share with the world. Because of them I believed in myself in a way I hadn’t thought was previously possible. Both of those high school teachers, also men. I owe so much of who I am those three teachers.
Why did you become involved in education?
I remember being a child and knowing I had a place I could go every day where I was safe, fed, loved, and encouraged no matter what. That place was school. I’ve grown to love to educate and was able to do that in my last position, but something was missing. You can probably guess what it was…the kids. Now I can give back the same things that made my education experience so amazing, to Alma scholars.
Where did you go to college or post-secondary school?
I’m a graduate from the University of Rhode Island! Go Rams!
What did you like about your college?
At URI, you had the ability to be absolutely anyone you wanted to be! You could be as big or as small as you chose, that all was in your hands. I met so many amazing and life changing people, in a small computer lab tucked away in an old brick building. Many people will graduate from URI and never step foot in that lab, that’s how big URI is. We all bonded under Christmas lights and lo-fi beats in a room with three tables, that’s how small URI is.
What is your favorite food?
I could eat Pho for every meal for the rest of my life!!
What is your favorite book?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, or the Great Gatsby.