How long have you been in the game?: 6 years

What makes you DOPE, BLACK AND MATHLETIC? 

I always had a niche for math growing up. I struggled with other subjects but math always made sense in school. I initially attended the University of Tennessee at Martin and I was a biology major with the hopes of being a dentist. But it didn’t feel right and science was never my passion. I had a math professor in 2008 ask me if I had ever considered majoring in math, but I was so offended because I never considered being a mathematician as monetarily successful. I transferred to the University of Memphis in 2009 and declared my major as Mathematical Sciences because math was the only thing I had ever loved to learn and discover. My next three years there were the most challenging and rewarding years in my early 20s. I never had intentions of being a teacher, I was honestly just winging it until an opportunity presented itself in my undergrad. I graduated in 2012 with my degree in Mathematical Sciences and a minor in Statistics. However, I didn’t transition into education until 2015 through the Aspire Teacher Residency Program to teach middle school math. I was so naive and had no idea how mentally hard it is to become a math teacher. I was assigned to Hanley Middle School in Orange Mound with my mentor, Tamera Malone. The next few years I spent at Hanley Middle molded me to be Dope, Black, and Mathletic because I went into teaching thinking I had all the tools to teach math because I have a degree in math. However, I learned the first day that relationships are essential, especially for kids that struggle to trust math. Teaching has challenged me to approach my pedagogies from the lens of a student with deficits that can sometimes date back to elementary. I have worked with some incredible women in math that are educators and provide raw, honest feedback no matter how much I consider myself an expert. I had a math coach, Lacee Rodgers, with a background in ELA that would push me to provide student feedback and explanations in complete sentences to strengthen their mathematical understanding to be transferred to other subjects. I know that my growth as a mathletic educator is contributed to my curiosity to continue to learn and discover new strategies and platforms that will strengthen my students’ confidence along with their own mathletic discoveries. My time at Hanley Middle was committed to students growth based on the student population. I was really challenged once I began teaching at Power Center Academy Middle School in 2019 because the student population is more diverse and I have to commit to both growth and proficiency. Also, I serve Hispanic students so the relationship-building has required a new approach, even virtually. These experiences have been humbling because I know the content but I have truly had to internalize the meaning of mundane math topics so that all of my students can vividly access the content in Orange Mound and East Memphis. I am a proud Dope, Black and Mathletic educator that is holistically committed to brown, middle school kids in Memphis that face few to many personal and/or educational adversities.

Favorite Quote: 

There should be no such thing as boring mathematics.
— Edsger W. Dijkstra

What is your best piece of advice for Dope, Black and Math educators and students?  

Trust the process! It takes time to build confidence and you have to trust what you know. When it doesn’t make sense, speak up and ask questions. You always have to be resourceful and research your wonderings in math. You don’t have to fit into being a cookie-cutter educator or student, no one can ever deny your expertise. Be yourself!

How to connect with Taneshia:

Instagram – teneshiaa
Facebook – Teneshia Brianna Hughlett