Troy Smith

I became a teacher because I enjoy learning and imparting that knowledge to others.

I applied for Indianapolis Teaching Fellows (ITF) because I felt that the vision was most closely aligned to my values and convictions. I knew the program was the right path for me when I read the vision and purpose statement during the application process.

It was a tremendous eye-opener. It was a plethora of information coming at a rapid pace. Even though the initial days were overwhelming, the information was tremendously valuable. I entered the classroom feeling sufficiently equipped to build classroom culture and deliver equitable instruction to my scholars.

They were challenging, yet productive. I was a founding staff member at a takeover school that had received a failing score for the previous five years. Resetting the culture was a substantial and monumental task. This task truly stretched each of the staff members in the building.