by Jen Myers

(Each month, UniCare, InsideLowell and Lowell Public Schools will honor a Lowell teacher for their exemplary work in the classroom and for going the extra mile to serve as a positive influence in the lives of their students)

The room smells of sweet freshly-baked maple cookies. It is furnished with beanbags, funky upholstered chairs, dining room sets, mats, and benches.

Is it a hipster coffee shop? Nope. It is Becky Doole’s classroom at the Wang Middle School.

“I found that when it comes to independent work a lot of my students don’t like sitting at traditional desks,” said Doole, a 7^th and 8^th grade English Language Arts teacher. “It occurred to me at the end of last year that most kids don’t like desks and I came up with a dicey plan.”

She spent the summer buying up random furniture from Facebook Marketplace and began redecorating her classroom.

“I went (mostly) deskless and got a lot of sideways glances and snarky comments along the way, but it’s been amazing,” she said. “The kids love it.  They feel like they’re getting away with something so they’re very respectful and are so careful not to ruin the experience.  I have a few traditional desks for kids who need the structure, but most kids are productive in the alternative seat they chose. They all have access to tabletops to write on, but most choose not to use them.  They all have access to an actual chair to sit in, but many prefer a mat on the floor.  It’s important to me that the kids have a choice with how they are learning.  And as long as they’re doing just that, I’m okay with where in the classroom it’s being done.”

Giving the students a seating choice that works for them fits in with the overall goal Doole is trying to accomplish in her class – growing young people who are independent thinkers.

“I want them to discover and understand all sides of information presented to them and through discovery and questioning come to an independent understanding of the subject matter,” Doole said.

On a recent morning the 7^th graders were diving headfirst into that concept by debating gun-control. It was their very first time debating and the students chose the challenging and controversial topic themselves.

Split into two camps, each group conducted online research to build an argument either for or against stricter gun control laws. They discussed how to respond to the likely rebuttals of their points from the other side, and also how to debate in a civilized manner.

“As long as you stick to your facts and statistics you will have a strong argument,” Doole said to the students, guiding them when they struggled on a point and cheering for them when they crushed one of their opponent’s points.

Doole, a Lowell High School graduate (Class of 1993) who has taught at the Wang since 2015, has a very natural connection with her students. Watching her in action it is hard to believe that she was ever anything but a teacher, but before taking on the classroom she spent 15 years working in Human Resources for start-up companies in Boston.

“When I worked in human resources I saw how little the younger population, and to some degree even the older population, knew about basic communication,” she said.  “Resumes and cover letters were written so poorly.  In-person interviews were challenging at times because basic skills such as eye contact and connected thoughts were lacking.  I reached a point where I felt like I needed to be on the other side of the table, so to speak and that’s when I transitioned to teaching.”

Her teaching journey began at the Wang in 2012 as a long-term substitute. She quickly scored a full-time gig at the Butler Middle School before returning to the Wang in 2015. While the thought of teaching middle school is terrifying to some, it is where Doole thrives.

“I think it’s safe to say that middle school was tough for all of us and certainly a time in our lives where we were going through so much change, and nothing is different now,” she said.  “Everything feels like life or death for a lot of these kids and they feel so, so much.  I love that I can connect with them on different levels, truly laugh with them about the little things, and help them see that they are unique and their problems do matter.”

Doole is not only a support system for her students, but also for her colleagues, acting as a teacher mentor and helping other teachers get projects funded through the crowd-sourcing site DonorsChoose.

“Becky has become our DonorsChoose Ambassador, helping her colleagues develop initiatives to improve their classrooms through that website,” said Wang Principal Matt Steinberg, who nominated Doole to be honored as a Classroom Quarterback. “She mentors two teachers and is constantly involved in assisting any and all staff members that look for guidance.”

Since she began posting on DonorsChoose, Doole has been able to get more than $20,000 in projects funded, including funding and updating her classroom library. The generosity of donors was key during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was able to secure funding for technology for the school. The most recent project is working to transform the Wang School library.

“Our school is creating a season of cultural acceptance,” she said. “I was able to get ornamental decorations for all of our 700+ students so they can help decorate the library to represent themselves.  Most projects under $500 are typically funded and I find that if I describe my project honestly, people will give.  People are generous, they just need to understand what they are giving to.”

And while her primary focus is on her students, Doole said she finds being a teacher mentor very rewarding, in ways she had not anticipated.

“I went into mentoring thinking that I could offer them support from my own personal experiences; and while this is true, I’ve taken away so much more,” she said.  “I’m able to look at my own styles and see them from a different perspective.  I love that I’m able to give them a shoulder to cry on, quite literally.  And I love being there to see their accomplishments in the classroom, big or small.”

About Becky Doole

Dream Vacation: Fiji
Favorite song to sing in the car: 9 to 5 by Dolly
Favorite meal: Turkey dinner
Favorite snack: Starburst
Favorite Movie:  The Princess Bride
Favorite Book: Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Favorite TV Show: Call the Midwife
Favorite Fictional Character: Cookie Monster