Teacher: Ms. Navarro

I teach English Language Arts at an urban inner-city middle school. Historically, the school has been known for its high crime, poverty, drugs, violence and notorious adolescent pregnancy. Middle school is a critical time for young children to build a defining sense of identity, specifically for the young women. Unfortunately, many of the young women in the community lack the guidance and resources to build strong self-esteems and an enlightened sense of self. There is a strong correlation between confidence, acceptance and sense of belonging that impact educational strives for young people.