Today we’d like to introduce you to Avni Kantawala.
Hi Avni, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was initially a premedical student in college. I took an education class by pure chance and realized I was way more interested and passionate about teaching. I joined the UTeach program at UT and started teaching right as COVID was happening. I was doing my student teaching right amid COVID, where everything was virtual, but I needed to learn how to do education strictly online. After getting certified, I taught in person for the first time, which was a new challenge. I got to teach biology and medical microbiology for two years at the same school I attended as a high schooler and where I taught students. I am still at that school, and I teach forensic science and medical microbiology this year.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The main struggle in my education career had to be COVID-19. Student teaching online was a challenge because no one, not my professors, mentor teacher, or other teachers, really knew how to do online school. A few specialty schools had been doing online school, but now all students were forced into online school. So, it was a massive learning curve for everyone, and I was equally unprepared as all my colleagues. Then, the transition back to in-person education was difficult. Most of my experience had been with virtual teaching, not physical students. Students were re-adjusting to being in person, and I felt like a brand new teacher despite having taught for a year already. Everyone struggled with being back in person and still in a pandemic. While most of the struggles have been resolved with time and experience, COVID and the pandemic have permanently changed how the school system works.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a high school teacher. I am specifically a science teacher with a focus on upper-level elective sciences. I like to incorporate real-life applications in classes. My medical microbiology class partners with public health institutions (Taking Our Best Shot from UTMB) to build educational materials regarding various topics like vaccines, health practices, and the spread of diseases. In forensic science, we do many hands-on labs where students get to do things like extract their own DNA, study mock crime scenes, and practice fingerprinting. I am most proud of the student engagement element of these classes.
What matters most to you?
Taking care of others is what matters most to me. I like being a safe space for students; being kind to others gives me purpose. One of my mantras is, “In a world where you can be anything, choose to be kind.” I think that there is so much power in making someone’s day. As a teacher, I often think about how, in 50 years, a student might not remember everything you taught them, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
