Ashley VanSteelandt was born in Detroit and grew up in Clinton Township until her family moved to Canton Township during her fourth grade year. As an only child, she grew up close to her extended family, especially her maternal grandparents, aunts, and cousins. Her mother, a registered nurse, and her father, a mechanical engineer, were active in supporting her education and always encouraged her not to be afraid to ask for help in school when she needed it. She encourages her students to do the same today.
VanSteelandt received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and her Master of Arts degree with a Reading Specialist Endorsement from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her mother taught her that it’s never too late to pursue educational goals, as she and her mother attended graduate school at the same time.
After graduation, VanSteelandt was hired as a Title 3 Teaching Assistant supporting English Language Learners. The position was funded by a grant, and when the grant ended, she began substitute teaching in multiple districts, searching for the one that truly felt like home.
One day, Principal Michael Johnson called her after she had completed some long-term subbing assignments in AAPS and asked if she would be interested in a long-term assignment that would only last a few months. A few months turned into the rest of the school year with the same class. She was grateful to have the opportunity to develop strong relationships with her students and see them become confident learners. She truly felt at home at Carpenter, and when positions opened up that summer, she eagerly applied. VanSteelandt was thrilled when she was hired to join the Carpenter family in 2015.
Johnson is just as thrilled that she made that choice.
“I could talk about her commitment to students, culture and diversity for hours and hours and hours!” he says.
Why did you pursue a career in teaching?
My maternal grandfather was an immigrant who was born in Bombay (Mumbai) and grew up in what is now Bangladesh. My grandfather, whom I referred to as my Nanajee, taught me the importance of education since there were some children in his village who needed to quit school in order to help support their families financially. He taught me that teachers give their students the gift of an education, which no one can ever take away from them. As a teacher, I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to give my students this gift every day and to learn from them as well.
What are your best tips for classroom management?
I’ve learned the importance of establishing strong relationships and routines with my students in order to set them up for success. Students feel supported when we set clear expectations and are consistent in helping them meet those expectations.This helps students learn self-management and develop responsibility and independence. I also believe that it’s important to make positive connections with students and demonstrate compassion so that they feel seen, heard, and valued. I enjoy highlighting students’ strengths and successes so I hand out affirmation cards, such as “First Time Listener” or “Always Giving 100%.” My students enjoy collecting these cards and sharing them with their families.
What do you like about working at Carpenter specifically, and AAPS in general?
I’ve had positive experiences at every school I’ve worked at but Carpenter was the first school that truly felt like home. There is a real sense of family in the Carpenter community and a dedication to helping every student succeed. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing staff and a diverse group of students who teach me about their cultures and experiences. I’m thankful to work in a district that understands the importance of culturally responsive teaching.
What’s the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is when I see a student take a risk in learning, such as asking a question or volunteering to solve a challenging math problem. It shows me that they are developing confidence in themselves as learners!
What do you want most for your students?
I want my students to develop a growth mindset and confidence. When my students are learning something new, I want them to feel free to ask for help and to know that making mistakes is a part of learning. I tell students the story of how I needed to receive math tutoring in high school and how my teachers encouraged me to persevere when a problem became challenging. I praise my students for taking risks in learning and persevering when faced with a challenge so that it becomes a part of our classroom culture.
How do you prevent burnout?
Veteran teachers have taught me the importance of setting boundaries and adjusting them when necessary in order to have a good work-life balance. I’ve learned the importance of getting a good night’s sleep and taking time to practice self-care. I make sure that I spend quality time with my family and do things that I enjoy outside of teaching, such as Bollywood dancing, cooking, and reading new novels.
What have you learned from your students lately?
My students remind me to go with the flow when unexpected situations happen. For example, I wanted to display something on the board but the projector stopped working in the middle of a lesson. As I tried to fix it, one of my students said, “It’s okay. You’re still a good teacher.” It made my day and reminded me to just adapt to the situation.
Favorite podcasts, websites, apps:
- We Are Teachers
- Teachers Pay Teachers
- Lexia
- Dreambox
- Epic
- GoNoodle
- PebbleGo
How is teaching different from the way you imagined it would be?
Before I got my first teaching job, I thought teaching would involve being organized, adaptable, a hard worker, a problem-solver, and a good communicator. Since then, I’ve learned that teaching also involves being a continuous learner and the importance of seeking additional training to enhance my skills. I always wanted to attend Advantage Math Recovery (AVMR) courses and when AAPS offered them, I signed up. It was one of the best training sessions I’ve ever attended to enhance my math practice!
Favorite meal at your favorite local restaurant?
I love cheesecake and so the Cheesecake factory is one of my favorite places to enjoy a sweet treat! The Salted Caramel Cheesecake with whipped cream is one of my favorites.
How do you spend your summers?
I enjoy visiting my family, exploring new places, visiting museums, attending cultural fairs, cooking, reading, and learning something new, such as Kathak dance, one of the classical dances of India.
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