Kenyan Diaspora Named Klein ISD Teacher Of The Year In Texas
KLEIN, TX – “I said I was going to transact my business of teaching very differently,” stated Klein Oak biology teacher Albert Kisangi. “I took my summer break to do a lot of intense reading and to reflect on how I was going to conduct my learning environment.”
His summer reflection has created a great return on investment as he is now the 2016 Klein ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.
As a lifelong learner, Kisangi practices what he instills in students. He received his kindergarten through 12th-grade education and an undergraduate degree in the rural areas of Kenya. He completed his graduate work in Japan. He is now a veteran teacher with 16 years in the classroom, the last seven at Klein Oak High School where he teaches on-level and pre-AP courses.
During that summer break, Kisangi asked himself what he could change in the teaching/learning environment. He also asked himself what were the one or two things that he could do that did not require any resources. This thought process led to the creation of a learning environment that goes by the moniker of 2G2R.
“I came to the conclusion that there were four things I was going to pursue this year,” he said. “One is growth mindset, try to shift the thinking of my students from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. And secondly, grit. And then I said much as these things are important, the only way you will be able to support them is to create a rigorous learning environment that makes learning relevant to the kids. I want the kids to embrace this.”
He believes that combining these four elements, growth mindset, grit, rigor, and relevance, assist his students in learning and achieving at a higher cognitive level. Dr. Brian Greeney, Klein Oak principal, stated that Kisangi even has a Twitter handle, @2G2Rclassroom, that outlines his four tenets.
“Twitter is where he communicates his thoughts about 2G2R and those of experts,” said Greeney. “Mr. Kisangi values academic conversation. His goal is to deliver engaging instruction continuously, create opportunities that are rich, meaningful, challenging and relevant to the learner. I will tell you that this is something that is more than just a goal, it is something he does every single day.”
This year for Kisangi is one that has left an indelible mark on his life.
“It means a lot to me,” he expressed. “I think this is a remarkable year. This experience is going to be engraved in my mind and my heart for the rest of my life.”
-kleinisd.net
