Teacher Feature: Cathy Fernandez

By Barbara P. Jacoby

E.T. Booth MS sixth-grade social studies teacher Cathy Fernandez makes history relevant for her students.

Now in her 15th year as a teacher, Fernandez heard her calling while working for a violence prevention program in Florida. She had the opportunity to teach in that role and realized her destiny, like many in her family tree, was to become a classroom teacher.

“Seeing the joy in a student’s eyes when they grasp a topic and hearing them say, ‘this reminds me of ...’ is what fuels me to keep going,” said Fernandez, who was named her school’s 2020-21 Teacher of the Year and a Cherokee County School District (CCSD) Teacher of the Year finalist. “I do not regret my roundabout way of becoming an educator because my prior experiences helped shape how I teach. I am honored to carry on my family’s tradition.”

With a goal of engaging students in learning about history and its impact on our lives, Fernandez designs lessons so “students do not see where we will end up right away.”

“This models that our content relates to their lives more than they ever thought. Structuring lessons like this helps students begin creating connections to our content on their own,” Fernandez said. “Those personal connections get students excited about learning.”

One example was a lesson on the rise of Nazism and the Holocaust. Students were tasked with interviewing family members about their knowledge of the Holocaust, with the students, in turn, sharing what they had learned in class. The assignment was so successful that it expanded into a school club that produces a podcast called For the Record.

Fernandez and media specialist Amanda Graves earned a grant to create a podcasting studio, and students now interview classmates, faculty, family, and community members about their experiences with significant historical events.

“The goal of the podcast is for students to create a digital history of how what they are learning in the classroom connects to their lives and the community,” Fernandez said. “By taking part in the podcast, students not only display mastery of content standards and beyond, but they also learn interpersonal skills and digital citizenship and literacy in a collaborative environment that will serve them well beyond the classroom.”

What can parents do to help their child be as successful as possible at school?

“As simple as it sounds, I think having meaningful conversations with your child about what they have done during the day is monumental,” said Fernandez. “When students know they will be asked more than ‘how was your day?’ they will be more accountable for their learning. It also shows that what they are learning does not stay within the confines of their school but extends into their everyday lives. Additionally, these conversations show students that their families are interested in what they do at school, and that does more than you realize. Families can also help their students by asking them to teach them what they learned. If students cannot teach you, then they do not know the material yet. These ‘teaching moments’ will help families see where their students need improvement and can help their student practice. But, they also give families an excellent chance to celebrate their student when they have successfully taught a lesson.”