How a Rise Academy teacher is helping students take their next big step
Every time a student steps foot in Brittany Andrews classroom, they’re reminded that great things await them. It’s not just because of the colorful college pennants that hang from the ceiling–it’s Mrs. Andrews herself. As the College and Career & Technical Education teacher, it’s hard to find someone more passionate about helping students realize their potential than Mrs. Andrews.
“Our students are so talented but sometimes they don’t even realize it,” she says. “I’m trying to build up their confidence and remind them they can get into so many schools, even ones that weren’t on their radar.”
All Rise Academy seniors are required to take College & Career Advisory, a year-round course dedicated to helping students identify college and career interests, prepare for standardized tests, and navigate the college application and FAFSA process. Beyond practical support, Mrs. Andrews is also there to manage the emotions of the college process. “It can be overwhelming for students, but I just try to say, ‘you got this, it's okay to not know what you want right now, it's okay to be afraid, it's okay to actually step outside of your comfort zone.’ For many of our students, this will be their first time leaving home for an extended period of time and it's both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.”
“We want to ensure our students get from college orientation to matriculation.”
– Brittany Andrews, College and CTE Teacher
Mrs. Andrews’ favorite part of the process is taking students on college visits. “A student could say until they’re blue in the face, ‘I'm going to Old Dominion.’ But until you get on that campus, ODU is just a school that you've heard of, just a school you've applied to, just a school on a computer screen. So giving students an opportunity to actually step foot on a campus is a huge blessing.”
In the future, Ms. Andrews would like to expand college visits to include longer trips and a wider range of schools. “I’d love to do a spring break trip so that we aren’t missing class and we have opportunity to see more culture,” she says. “I want students to have the opportunity to get out of Richmond, and out of Virginia because some of our students have never left the city. ” She’s also working to provide more wraparound support for students once they get to college. “We don’t want to just say ‘oh you graduated, we’ll keep up with you on Instagram.’ We want to ensure our students get from college orientation to matriculation.”
In addition to guiding students in the classroom, Mrs. Andrews is the Head Cheer Coach and can be found front and center at any Rise Academy sporting event with her family. “Our spouses and families don’t feel pressure to support, but they still get involved in our programs because they believe in the mission just as much as people on staff do. So, any way we can support students, we’re going to do it. I don’t just like Rise, I love it.”