Teacher Appreciation Week: Joel Crowley

Featuring Joel Crowley, MHS Elementary Division Technology Innovation Teacher

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, Milton Hershey School interviewed several teachers, across all three scholastic division, to recognize their important role within the MHS community.

1. What’s one thing you wish people understood about your job?

The one thing I wish people understood about my job is that I teach children, not subjects. I love that each class is a new chance to connect with them and to bring our curriculum to life.

2. What are the biggest challenges and most rewarding parts of your job?

The biggest challenge of teaching, for me, is time management. It can be a challenge to be responsive to student’s needs, cover all of the material required, and remain flexible when schedule changes can impact your class time. The most rewarding part of my job is to persevere alongside a student as they struggle with a difficult challenge. I love the joy of celebrating their success when they realize their own potential and are empowered to do hard things.

3. What made you want to become a teacher?

I had several inspirational teachers who really impacted my life. First was my dad who taught high school math. Another was Mr. Davenport, who was my fourth-grade teacher, he made learning and his classroom fun. Finally, my high school band teacher, Mr. Dabback, was an adult who really invested time in getting to know me as an individual. I’m grateful to all the teachers who have shaped me into who I am today.

4. What grade do you teach? And how many years have you been teaching?

I teach first- through fourth-grade technology innovation. I have been teaching for 13 years.

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Milton Hershey School is carefully following federal and state guidelines, CDC considerations, and MHS-established health and safety protocols to keep our campus a safe, nurturing, and healthy place. Any group photos of unmasked subjects were taken prior to the face coverings mandate.