Denise Davidson MAT’19
“As a result of the M.A.T.L. program at MHC, I am a better teacher. I am more reflective on my teaching practices and am more confident in my abilities to teach and lead.”
Denise Davidson will complete her M.A.T.L. in 2019. She currently teaches third grade. She was initially drawn to Mount Holyoke M.A.T.L. program because, while she had been teaching for 27 years and loved it, she wanted to be able to make an impact on not only the lives of her students but also others around her. A friend and former colleague, who was the 2016 Tennessee Teacher of the Year, suggested that she look into the M.A.T.L. program at Mount Holyoke. In researching the history and academics of Mount Holyoke, she was amazed at the women who have graduated from Mount Holyoke and have made such amazing impacts on the lives of others. At that point, she knew the Teacher Leadership program at MHC was the one for her.
For Denise, the most valuable aspects of the M.A.T.L. program are the amazing instructors for the classes that she has taken in the M.A.T.L. program. They have taught her so much, but they have also challenged her to reflect on where she is and where she wants to go. They have not only taught her about the many aspects of teacher leadership, but they have helped her to build confidence in herself. They have helped her to see that even as a veteran teacher she can still make a difference in education and in the lives of others.
Of her ability to balance the demands of being a teacher and graduate student, Denise says, “Teaching in and of itself keeps me busy as I strive to be the teacher that my students need. Teaching and taking graduate classes has proven challenging, but I love it. I have to be super organized in order to balance my time between the two.”
Denise describes the effect that her time in the MATL program has had on her professionally: “As a result of the M.A.T.L. program at MHC, I am a better teacher. I am more reflective on my teaching practices and am more confident in my abilities to teach and lead.”
After completing her M.A.T.L., Denise is still not exactly sure of where she is going, but she knows that she now has more options. Her greatest desire is to continue to make an impact on the lives of her students and others around her.
