About Ms. Ferguson

 What is most appealing to working in education, says Sherelle Ferguson, is the opportunity to work with students at an age where, despite the obstacles, there is so much potential for positive change.

“I like that with the older students, we can really dig in and discuss deep, conceptual issues,” she says. “It is the final frontier before college. Every skill that I teach them feels fraught with urgency and is directly related to the academic skills they will need in college. I get to witness the final approach towards the ultimate goal: college.”

Ms. Ferguson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies and then a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University, says the best part about teaching history is how she too learns from each topic, event, or issue she presents to the class.

“They say that you never know something as well until you have to teach it to someone else and I have found that to be absolutely true. Although it’s sometimes frustrating, I find joy in the challenge of organizing and interpreting historical topics to shape them into something accessible for my students. “

Ms. Ferguson, who grew up in Nassau, The Bahamas, says she feels the influence to this day of her 7th grade Spanish and French teacher.

“Ms. Montero was my favorite because she went out of her way to show me what I was capable of. One day as I made up a test that I had been absent for, she put a 12th grade exam in front of me and told me to just try it. She already knew, before I did, that I would ace it.” Ms. Ferguson says. “After silently grading it, she very directly and seriously told me that I needed to always push my abilities, even beyond what teachers were asking of me.  I distinctly remember coming home that day and riding high on this feeling that my potential was limitless. I haven’t been the same since.”