When students feel safe, seen, and valued, their ability to learn grows and their future pathways begin to open.
Through the Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, Becoming Collegiate Academy teacher Mya Bass attended the State of Black Learning Conference in Pittsburgh to gain strategies for disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline and creating classrooms where students can thrive academically and emotionally.
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund administers the Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellowship to give outstanding educators the chance to design and pursue a learning experience that strengthens their practice. Created by Dan Edelman in honor of his wife, Cindy, a former Duval County art teacher, the fellowship recognizes teachers as leaders and innovators.
For Bass, the fellowship produced three key shifts that will directly benefit her students and the school community.
Students will learn in classrooms grounded in empathy.
At the State of Black Learning Conference, Bass engaged with educators and thought leaders who emphasized the importance of honoring students’ lived experiences. The conference reinforced that teaching goes beyond test scores. When teachers build authentic relationships and create spaces where students feel seen and valued, engagement and achievement follow.
Students will gain tools to manage stress and focus on learning.
Workshops on brain science and emotional regulation showed how stress affects memory, attention, and behavior. Bass plans to introduce classroom routines such as breathing strategies, movement breaks, and mindful reflection. These practices will help students regulate their emotions, improve focus, and approach challenging tasks with confidence.
Students will benefit from a school culture that prioritizes well-being.
Through collaboration with colleagues, she will share strategies that integrate social-emotional learning into academic instruction. By reframing SEL as a foundation and not a fix, teachers can build classrooms where students develop resilience, form healthy relationships, and feel supported in both mind and body.
By centering empathy, emotional awareness, and strong relationships, this fellowship experience will help create classrooms where students feel safe enough to learn, grow, and imagine new possibilities for their futures.