Standing in front of centuries-old manuscripts in Rome, Jean Ribault High School teacher Marques Reynolds was reminded that words are more than assignments; they are the way humanity preserves its stories, culture, and identity.
Through the Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, Reynolds traveled to London and Rome to explore the origins of language and return to the classroom with new energy and perspective for teaching literacy.
The Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellowship gives outstanding educators the opportunity to design and pursue a learning experience anywhere in the world. Established by Dan Edelman in honor of his wife, Cindy, a former Duval County art teacher, the fellowship recognizes teachers as professionals and innovators. Fellows choose experiences that deepen their expertise, spark new ideas, and ultimately strengthen learning for students and schools across Jacksonville.
The fellowship provided Reynolds with three powerful takeaways that will shape both classroom instruction and collaboration with fellow educators.
Language as a living, evolving system.
In London, he listened to world-renowned linguists explain the evolution of grammar, providing insights that transformed the way he viewed English. Instead of a static set of rules, he saw language as something dynamic that constantly adapts to the people who use it. This shift will help students see reading and writing as meaningful tools for expression, not just academic tasks.
A deeper connection to the history of words.
In Rome, visits to the Capitoline Museum and the Vatican Apostolic Library offered a look at ancient manuscripts and inscriptions. Standing before the artifacts, Reynolds said he was struck by the clear evidence of humanity’s long history of recording knowledge and preserving stories. The experience reinforced the idea that language connects generations across time.
New energy for literacy instruction.
The fellowship reignited his passion for teaching and sparked ideas for helping students see language as history, culture, and identity combined. He plans to share stories, visuals, and lessons from the trip to strengthen comprehension skills and encourage colleagues to approach literacy with the same creativity often reserved for STEM subjects.
By bringing the story of language’s origins back to the classroom, the Reynolds’ experience will help students build stronger reading skills, deeper cultural understanding, and greater confidence as communicators.
This connection of ancient worlds to modern times, made possible through the Cindy Edelman Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, will help students experience language as a living link between their own voices and the stories of the past.