123: From student to instructor - A Montco journey

Twenty years ago, Eric Clark took a summer course at Montgomery County Community College to help him finish his bachelor’s degree. Now he’s back on campus, this time teaching statistics as a part-time instructor. Listen as he tells his Montco journey and what it’s like to be back on campus after two decades.

Recorded and edited by Quinn Szente from the College's Sound Recording and Music Technology Program

Transcript

Welcome And Meet Eric Clark

Speaker 1 0:19

Hello, and welcome to the Montco on the Move podcast. I'm Dr. Jared Brown, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at Montco's Pottstown campus. Our guest today is mathematics lecturer Eric Clark. Twenty years ago, Eric was a student at the college, and today he's back on campus, this time teaching on the Bluebell campus. We'll talk about his Montco journey and how it feels to be back two decades later. Decades, wow. Welcome, Eric. How are you?

Speaker 2 0:49

I'm doing great. Thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 0:50

So before we begin, I want to learn a little bit about who you are, and then we'll dive into your time as a student in Montco and then what it feels like to be in front of students teaching my favorite subject, math. Yes. And learning more about your style, who you are, and how you're contributing to the overall community college mission. So let's start with who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Speaker 2 1:16

Well, my name is Eric Clark. I'm born and raised in New England. Throw in a little Go Patriots there.

Speaker 1 1:21

But uh You better be careful.

Speaker 2 1:23

Listen, if you Google my name in Collegeville Bakery, you'll realize that I have an appreciation for the Eagles. Okay, good, good. So by day I'm a math teacher at Owen J. Roberts High School. I primarily teach Algebra One for incoming freshmen.

Speaker 1 1:36

Nice.

Speaker 2 1:36

But I also teach here, obviously, as well as a couple of other online institutions. But I've been in academia for the last 20 years in a variety of different capacities. My family and I moved here officially in 2020, so you can imagine navigating the job search process

How Campus Life Has Changed

Speaker 2 1:53

in the middle of a pandemic. So not at all selling a home, buying a home, finding the right fit. It was it was really cool to sort of connect with the folks at Delaware Valley Friends School, which was how I was able to make the transition into Pennsylvania.

Speaker 1 2:09

Very nice. So you're back at Montco. Has it changed since you were a student? It definitely has. It seems much bigger.

Speaker 2 2:16

Bigger? Yeah, and the and just the overall campus feel. It it just I've worked at a four-year college institution and it was a beautiful campus on the South Shore of Boston. And I think what I've been able to experience here just walking in to the ATC and seeing the quad and just the trees and the pathways and the walkways, I love the vibe and the feel that that I get walking through campus. It it it just feels like home and it feels like a place where you can sit down and be comfortable and have some really enriching conversations with students and colleagues.

Speaker 1 2:49

Yeah. When I first arrived at Montco, I was amazed by the spaces, the technology, the innovation. And it really checked my mindset about community college because I had traditionally only worked at four-year institutions, and then when I got here, I was like, well, wait a second, this is actually better than some four-year institutions that I've worked at. Absolutely. And it makes the student experience so much more elevated. And I'm glad that you feel that same energy

The One Class He Needed

Speaker 1 3:22

as well.

Speaker 2 3:22

Most definitely. And I think just to piggyback off of that, I have four daughters, two of which are in in high school. My oldest is going to be a junior this year, and we're talking about what the what do we want her college experience like.

Speaker 1 3:34

We're going to dive into that later on. But so when you were a student at the college, tell us your story. How did you land at Montco? How did that transpire?

Speaker 2 3:46

So this was kind of a graduation concern. So I transferred into Eastern Nazarene College as a student from Castleton State College, now university in Vermont. And I wasn't paying attention to graduation requirements. I don't know if my advisor was either. We overlooked the fact that I didn't have an intro-to-programming class transfer in. So that was the last requirement that I needed because in Massachusetts you have to b double major in math and education, and the intro-to-programming class was the very last class that I needed to take. And I had a job lined up teaching for Quincy Public Schools as an eighth-grade math teacher. I was here for during that summer in particularly because my wife and I were getting married in July, uh on July 29th in 2006. So I was I was in the area to sort of do the wedding planning, also needing to complete that that one course requirement. So it was it was a blessing that I was able to find Montco and and and meet those uh graduation requirement needs.

Speaker 1 4:48

Wow, that's an interesting journey. I'm glad you didn't say it was a math class that you needed, but you know, but I'm glad that Montco was able to play that role in your academic journey and help you fulfill and complete your progress. So what did what was your experience like as a student? What were the classes like, the professors, the vibe?

Speaker 2 5:11

I mean, it was a programming class, so all programmers we or mathematical thinking people would kind of have a similar vibe. We were very focused, and it was a rigorous class. So I I think I I know that I I got what I paid for. I was trying to juggle a bunch of different things, so I found that my instructor was really sort of understanding. At 21 years old, 22 years old, you sort of kind of feel like you think what adulthood is like. You but making that transition, I experienced some some anxiety and some fear being able to plan the wedding, being able to make sure I was able to I was working at a meat processing plant in KOP, making all the Burger King's burgers. Um so that was an interesting sidebar. But there was a lot of taxation on my time. And I found myself getting behind in the course just because I was pulling double shifts at the at the at the plant. So my instructor was accommodating and and worked with me and provided me with a little bit of uh extended time, if you will. And then sort of dovetailing, unbeknownst to me, I had undiagnosed ADHD, so as an adult, looking back, I can see okay, some of my executive functioning issues and and processing concerns definitely came to a head in that experience. And I didn't have any documentation at the time, but the just my instructor was fantastic and I could almost cry thinking about how caring and accommodating he was.

Speaker 1 6:32

I don't think you're alone because so many of our students have what I would say priorities, conflicting time schedules. And the one thing that I really appreciate about our faculty and staff is that we hear and see students for their unique journey. And so I'm very grateful that that faculty member was like, look, let's not add more to your plate. You have things to learn and things to complete. I'll work with you, let's get through it.

Speaker 2 7:01

Absolutely. And it really informed sort of who I am as an educator, too. I can't say that it's the entirety of who I am, but having that one example

A Career Built On Student Support

Speaker 2 7:10

of somebody that is caring and compassionate, but also maintaining high levels of rigor really really was an inspiration in terms of guiding me to become the teacher and instructor that I that I want to be.

Speaker 1 7:21

So since you left Montco, you finished, you graduated, you did all the things. What have you been up to?

Speaker 2 7:27

It's definitely been a wild 20-year journey. I transitioned when after we got married in in the summer of 2006, my wife and I moved back to Quincy, Massachusetts. She was actually still finishing school. So I spent a couple years teaching uh middle school math at Central Middle School in Quincy, Massachusetts, and then an opportunity opened up for me to become the assistant director of the Center for Academic Success at Eastern Nazarene College. So I stayed in that role for about three and a half years, and then I was promoted to the director role, and that's really where I discovered my love of working with students with learning differences and really being able to tr work collaboratively with them and my faculty colleagues to create a learning environment that is really conducive to their to their learning needs. And then for the remainder of my Quincy journey, I worked at an independent all-girls school, director of admissions at Quincy College, founding math teacher for Neighborhood House Charter School in Boston, and I really would have stayed there until retirement. But around the, I would say, the beginning of 2020, my wife and I realized we probably need to think about moving closer to family. So she has family in in the area. So making that transition was was interesting going through the job applications and house search and whatnot. But my first role in NPA was at Delaware Valley Friends School, which is an independent Quaker school that was established to serve kids with learning differences, dyslexia, ADHD, and a vast array of other diagnoses. In that role, it was really empowering to work with those students because one of the Quaker values that really sort of aligns with my sort of philosophy is that everybody has a light within them. And I really take that seriously and try to apply it to the work I do in the classroom. So after two years at Delaware Valley Friends School, I was able to transition into a full-time teaching role at Owen J. Roberts High School. And it was always a goal for my wife and I to live and work within the same district. I gave myself a timeline of 45, or maybe it was even forty. So I I transitioned into that role before the goal. But along the along the same time, I was putting feelers out to find inroads to Montco just because I love the mission of two-year institutions. Yeah. And I've had a positive experience with the institution. I wanted to find ways to give back and be involved with pushing that mission forward.

Speaker 1 9:53

So you found the place that helped you finish your four-year degree and coming back to this area, and something told you like, hmm, maybe I could teach at Montco.

Teaching Math Without The Fear

Speaker 1 10:05 Speaker 2 10:05

Yeah.

Speaker 1 10:06

That's great. That's great. So now that you're here and you're teaching, what's one thing you really like about teaching at the college level? Or you can give me multiple things that you like at the college level.

Speaker 2 10:18

I joke with my colleagues at times that my Montco students are absolutely phenomenal. When you go into a ninth grade classroom, you obviously have some behavior management and classroom management techniques that you have to deploy in order to keep things in line. However, at Montco, even if the student turned 18 last week, they're coming with a level of maturity and focus and drive that doesn't require the same level of classroom management. If you were to look at at these students' notebooks, it's they're phenomenal. These students are really, really strong and they're going places. Some of them are full-time students here, some of them are taking a course over the summertime to bring it back to their home institution, but that's one of the great benefits of having accessibility to a two-year school. You you can have such a diverse group of students in front of you, and I think it just enriches the learning experience from the student's perspective and from my perspective. I love seeing students from varying backgrounds interact and asking really thoughtful and insightful questions.

Speaker 1 11:19

Since you're teaching in the classroom now at Montco and you have a vast array of teaching experience, I'm curious, can you tell me how you reduce the fear and anxiety for a student being in a math class that has been told or they think in their head, I'm terrible in math. This is going to be a struggle for me. How do you build that rapport with them? Because I would be that student that would avoid your class, but know that I need to take your class. So can you share with me sort of that easing the tension, if you will? sure. And having students realize you can do this?

Speaker 2 11:57

I think it's baked into my sort of ethos. I don't take myself too seriously, and I understand and I and I make sure to articulate that on the front end. Like some of you are going to really love math. Some of you have had a negative experience with math. Right. So let's figure out where you're at and and really work through this together.

Speaker 1 12:16

Nice

Speaker 2 12:16

preface. If you need time, find me. We'll work through it together. Life throws us curveballs all the time.

Speaker 1 12:22

Yeah.

Speaker 2 12:22

So don't be afraid to to open up that dialogue so we can we can collaborate and and work this out together. Because I think starting the course by reducing sort of that fear. Because I think there's an allure about instructors at times. I know there was when I was a student,

Dual Enrollment And Avoiding Debt

Speaker 2 12:38

like they're untouchable, they're experts in their field, this, that, and the other. And I don't want to take myself too seriously, and I hope that that is translated into the classroom.

Speaker 1 12:46

Very nice. So you mentioned earlier you have two daughters. Four. Oh my gosh, four, but two were in high school, right? So how do we get them here?

Speaker 2 12:56

Well, to be honest, it's not gonna be difficult. Both of them are athletes. Yeah. Um my oldest plays volleyball, so it's just a matter of connecting them. And to be honest, I think the culture of higher education has changed since I was since I was a student, and I think priorities are different.

Speaker 1 13:11

Correct.

Speaker 2 13:11

And I think just speaking into sort of the impact that carrying high debt loads can how that can negatively impact your trajectory once you graduate. And really if you reduce your debt load, you're gonna create opportunities for yourself to experience things that mom and I may not have ever been able to experience, or it took us longer to sort of take care of that debt load.

Speaker 1 13:35

Well, I encourage you to have that conversation because I have seen the impact of our amazing dual enrollment team at Montco and just that opportunity for students to fulfill high school requirements as well as the college, helping them get a head start economically, as you mentioned. And I always find it fascinating when I meet a student that is around your daughter's age that graduated with their associates before they graduated high school. I just think it's amazing. It's wild. It's not everyone's path. Sure. But I think that knowing that it's an option and as you pointed out, a good conversation to have if they choose to go in that route, which we hope that they will be Mustangs.

Speaker 2 14:18

Absolutely. And I do that with my my high school students too. Like as soon as I stepped in, even before I stepped in with my role at OJR, I was I was talking dual enrollment at at Delaware Valley Friends School just because there is a massive upside. Especially if at the at if there's limitations on the the level of math courses you can take within the home institution, let's see what we can do to elevate elevate the learning experience and get some college credit simultaneously.

Speaker 1 14:46

It's time and money, and then I know that our faculty are giving that rigor that's going to prepare a student for the next step in their journey.

Speaker 2 14:56

Absolutely.

Speaker 1 14:56

And so I think it's a no-brainer. So I'm looking forward to you having those conversations and thank you for being a cheerleader of the dual enrollment experience. I have one final question. When you look back at your time as a Montco student and now teaching in our classrooms, what comes to mind?

Speaker 2 15:16

Opportunity. And I think I feel community. Even though I'm here just four days a week for a couple of hours,

Community Reflections And How To Connect

Speaker 2 15:24

I feel like I've been able to connect with everybody that I've I've come across. Everybody's been so friendly and engaging, and it doesn't matter if you're part of the custodial team or if you're part of the dean team. Like everybody is welcoming, engaging, and it just seems like there's a sense of care that oozes out of folks at Poor's when you walk through the hallways.

Speaker 1 15:44

\ Well, Eric, I'm sure this will not be the last time that I will see you in the halls here at Montco. And thank you for continuously being a positive attribute to education, both under K through 12 and now on the college level. We need more people like you that are passionate about learning and really see students for who they are and their successful journey and their potential. So thank you for doing that. And maybe I might take a math class with you. I don't know.

Speaker 2 16:12

All right, sounds good. Thank you for having me. It's been a great opportunity. And like you said, hopefully it's not the not the last time.

Speaker 1 16:19

I doubt it. So thanks again, Eric, for joining today on the podcast. We really appreciate your time and telling your Montco story. Thanks again. I'd like to send a special thank you to our sound and recording music technology student, Tommy Karate, and Quinn Szente, alumnus of the SRT program, who are producers of today's show. And thank you for listening to the Montco on the Move podcast. Check back soon to hear more stories from our Montco family. Until next time, I'm Dr. Jared Brown. Thanks again for listening.

Speaker 16:52

Thanks for listening to Montco on the Move. Students at Montgomery County Community College working in the sound recording and music technology program, record, edit, and produce this podcast. Check out mc3.edu forward slash on the move to listen to our latest episode or download our podcast on your favorite podcast app. You can also learn about the latest episodes by following us on social media. Have a guest in mind you think would be great for the podcast? Email Eric Devlin at edevlin at mc3.edu or Diane Van Dyke at dvandyke at mc3.edu. And come back next time to find out more about what's happening at your community college and catch our Montco Momentum.