Welcome back to the POP QUIZ! This is a regular, yet totally unexpected, feature where we ask students, parents, staff, our friends, and partners to answer a few questions about what they are learning, reading, and thinking about. Today we feature Jen DeWaele, CIS Site Coordinator at Woodward School for Technology and Research. Her Principal, Mr. Frank Rocco, was interviewed a few months back by Daquayveon Edmonson and you can read that post here.
An interesting fact about Jen is that she is one of four individuals who founded Peace House, an intentional community in the Eastside Neighborhood of Kalamazoo dedicated to nurturing the next generation of peacemakers.
Alright, Jen: pencils out, eyes on your own paper. Good luck.
POP QUIZ
What is something interesting you’ve recently learned?
I’ve recently learned about elephant memory. Elephants can remember where water has been decades later when there is a drought or areas have been planted over. Each elephant has a personal greeting that they recognize each other with, and they can remember these long after an individual has passed.
What are you currently reading?
What is the What by Dave Eggers. It is the story of one of the lost boys from Sudan.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Patient.
What is your favorite word right now?
Community. I believe that we are all better when we can work together. When we have our shared wisdom and experience, we can go further and deeper towards more creative ideas and solutions.
Will you share with us something that has been on your mind lately?
I’ve been noticing lately that there’s a lot of anger in our culture. I’ve been thinking a lot lately of how I can, and should try to, be a part of changing that in a positive way, even if it seems small.
Behind every successful student– and grownup–is a caring adult. Who is one of your caring adults?
My husband. We take on each day together as a team. He is my sounding board and support for everything. I’m daily grateful for his wisdom.
CIS Site Coordinator Jen DeWaele (right) with friend, Jordan Martin
Tags: Dave Eggers, Frank Rocco, Jen DeWaele, Kalamazoo Public Schools, KPS, What is the What, Woodward School for Technology & Research
