IslandWood graduate students were featured in this recent Seattle Times article about House Bill 2078
October 23, 2024
“When I reflect on my time at IslandWood, what stands out is the community I had. In my current work, I want to find ways to bring in the community whether that is within the school or outside, learning is relational and contextual. As they say, learning is life long, life wide, life deep.”
Rach Brennan, IslandWood Class of 2023, shares how her experiences are shaping her work as an educator and outdoor enthusiast.
Rach is currently an Associate Teacher at Open Window Middle School in Bellevue, where she guides 5th and 6th graders through the wonders of science. “We are currently focusing on the scientific process,” she explains. But her teaching extends far beyond the classroom walls. During summers, Rach leads backpacking trips with Wildland Trekking Company, sharing her love for the Pacific Northwest’s wilderness with adventurers from all walks of life.
Rach’s time at IslandWood continues to influence her approach to teaching. She emphasizes the importance of “multiple ways of knowing” and challenges the notion of singular answers in science. “Learning is relational,” she says, echoing the lessons she learned from Dr. Priya. Rach fosters a classroom environment where students feel safe to explore, hypothesize, and even “fail,” recognizing that every experiment, successful or not, contributes to understanding.
“When I reflect on my time at IslandWood, what stands out is the community I had,” Rach shares. “In my current work, I want to find ways to bring in the community, whether that is within the school or outside.”
Currently, Rach is finding inspiration in the book “New Teacher Mindset” by Trevor Muir and John Spencer. She’s particularly interested in their insights on using humor in the classroom, especially when tackling serious topics. Rach’s optimism shines through when she talks about her students and the changing seasons. “The students I teach are so emotionally intelligent,” she marvels. “I see people working and communicating through their frustrations and stresses… There is creative thinking happening ALL the time!”
Even the simple act of catching a falling leaf, a game she learned at IslandWood, brings Rach joy and a sense of hope. “It’s a season of slowing down,” she reflects. “This makes me hopeful. I can take in moments in a different way now.”
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Learn more about our graduate program in partnership with the University of Washinton here.
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