Staff Spotlight: Phillip Ashley, Lead Teacher at PS 284 After School

[Interview from 5/2/2023]

When did you start with BCS? And how did you get involved?

I started with BCS in 2015. There was a Halloween party here and the principal expressed that there was going to be an after school program coming to the school and asked if that’d be something I’d be interested in. I interviewed and that was it from there.

 Can you describe this program?

We provide a service for the kids of the community. We do homework help and we teach different curriculums. The curriculum right now it’s “Music Around the World.” We’re learning about all aspects of music, different genres. I did a lesson where I gave them three different sounds and I wanted to see if they could identify if it was pop or hip hop or salsa or jazz. The other curriculum I really liked from BCS was when we did “Space and Beyond.” We had a chance to learn about all the different planets. I got the chance to create a lesson where the kids created their own passports to go to one of the planets. They got to see what the planet looked like and if it was sustainable for us humans to live on. They really enjoyed packing their bags. The program also runs through the summer where we go on different trips. We’re just serving our community.

What’s your favorite aspect of your job?

It’s being able to give back. When I was younger I was in resource classes and suffered from ADHD. Once I overcame those challenges, I was able to help these students that have those experiences. It gives me a chance to give them a different direction than I took. I’m able to provide more insight, more understanding as to what they’re going through, as to what’s going on. Just figuring out another way to provide them service.

Why is this program important to this community?

There isn’t a lot that’s offered in these neighborhoods, as far as education programs. Some of the parents aren’t as educated or haven’t finished high school or haven’t been to college. I feel like by BCS being in a community like this, it just sets a tone. Maybe another community will look at what we’re doing over here at BCS and maybe they can pick up one of our good qualities.

What’s a challenging aspect of your job?

The biggest challenge was for me to realize and understand that every child is different, every child’s story is different. It’s a challenge for me to learn a new story each day and how I can assist or help or have a major impact on anyone of those stories.

Why do you teach?

I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. I went through challenges and I overcame this challenges, and now I’m in the position where BCS can help me help the other kids, the other families around with some of the same challenges and struggles I had in the past. Just to make a difference, to make a change. I’ve been here since 2015 and I love it. Each year is a new set of kids, new stories, new experiences. Through our experiences, that’s how we learn. I don’t have any kids of my own, so here I have the chance to take kids under my wing.

Anything else you want to add?

It’s like family here. We come together under one roof, for one purpose, and that purpose is the kids.