Beacon administrator shares insight with DSU education students

Delaware State University recently hosted its spring professional development day for education students. Attendees heard from a variety of presenters and attended breakout sessions surrounding the teaching profession.

One of the presenters was Dontez Collins, a DSU alum and Beacon Middle School assistant principal.

“When I was asked to be a part of the professional development day at DSU, I was very honored and excited,” said Collins. “DSU is like home for me, as I was an education major there myself and a member of the graduating class of 2010. To be able to share my knowledge with future educators about finding joy and creating joy in the classroom was a full-circle moment for me.”

Collins’ presentation was packed full of energy, activities and pieces of advice he has found meaningful in his own journey. “It’s the role of the educator to build a community of learners in the school and in the classroom,” Collins said. “Each community is different, and each student has different needs, whether that be academic, social or emotional. Ultimately, as the educators, it’s our responsibility to uncover the needs and show the students they matter, to truly care about them as a whole person.”

In addition to highlighting the importance of building a community within the classroom, Collins also emphasized the importance of facilitating connection over content, understanding students’ hierarchy of needs, fostering a growth mindset over deficit mindset and always being a lifelong learner.

“I hope I left the students at DSU feeling excited to embark on their teaching journey,” Collins said. “Being an educator can be a tough job, and it’s important to remember why you chose this profession, and to continuously find joy and create joy for your students every day.”