It started with an aversion to math. And now Nisha Phillip Malahoo 麻豆精品 S�21MEd is fostering a community of learning. A teacher for nearly a decade at Pinewood Elementary, a Title I school in Orange County, Malahoo works to create a classroom experience that 麻豆精品 S檚 both exciting and engaging for students. That desire stems from her own background in school.
“I wanted to find a way that allowed students to embrace math rather than see it as something scary.”
麻豆精品 S淕rowing up, I was never great at math. In fact, I actively despised it. I did not like teaching math either, 麻豆精品 S� Malahoo says. 麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to find a way that allowed students to embrace math rather than see it as something scary. 麻豆精品 S�
Motivated to find new strategies and ways to present material that would help students embrace and enjoy their studies, Malahoo decided to apply for graduate school. A former scholar of the 麻豆精品 S� an education, industry and community partnership aimed at improving mathematics, science and technology education in Central Florida 麻豆精品 S� she earned a master 麻豆精品 S檚 in K-8 mathematics and science education this summer.
麻豆精品 S淕raduate school allowed me to learn, unlearn and relearn, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭he professors at Lockheed Martin Academy helped me understand the concepts behind math instead of just memorizing processes. It was like a light bulb went off. I took that confidence back into the classroom and shared it with my fellow teachers. Now I have a model classroom that other teachers visit to see how I instruct my kids. 麻豆精品 S�
Helping Others Amid a Pandemic
In addition to her daily role as mom, teacher and student, Malahoo is a strong advocate for her local community. Most recently, she jumped into action after seeing the toll of the coronavirus pandemic.
麻豆精品 S淲hen the pandemic hit, I noticed some parents lost their jobs and saw how it affected the kids, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 live in the same neighborhood as my students, so I observed their needs firsthand and knew that I needed to help. 麻豆精品 S�
One of her first efforts last spring focused on literacy.
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So Malahoo, who is also a technology trainer at the Orange County Public Library, gathered books and started lending them to students. After finishing one book, they would return it to her house and get another one.
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Connecting with fellow neighbors also provided Malahoo a glimpse into their lives. Through conversations, she learned about their needs 麻豆精品 S� from food insecurity to homelessness, among other struggles to make ends meet. When students shared that they were going to skip Thanksgiving because they didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have food. Malahoo sprang into action again, this time reaching out to local organizations. That 麻豆精品 S檚 where she met and partnered with the non-profit organization Above and Beyond for Change. Together, they were able to secure more than 45 pre-cooked Thanksgiving Dinners from Publix. On Thanksgiving eve, she set up a table in her driveway and distributed the pre-cooked dinners.
Fostering a Culture of Giving Back
Malahoo 麻豆精品 S檚 community events and efforts soon became a monthly happening. With the continued assistance from Above and Beyond for Change, she distributed dozens of coats and jackets last December to help keep students warm in colder temperatures. Several months later, she prepared small packages of snacks as a Valentine 麻豆精品 S檚 Day gift. Then, ahead of spring break, she rallied community members to assemble boxes of food that would ensure students and their families had at least three meals per day.
The events have not only helped serve those in need but have brought the community together. Local organizations, including the Orlando Police Department (OPD), join in the efforts in getting involved and giving back.
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In the final weeks of the 2020-21 school year, Mahaloo achieved another dream: to donate 100 bikes.
麻豆精品 S淭he Florida weather can be tough on students walking home. A bike makes their trek much easier, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 also a great way to keep kids active and gets them outside more. 麻豆精品 S�
Mahaloo also partnered with Bike Walk Central Florida to secure a helmet for each child.
And while school was out for the summer, she spent months organizing her most recent event, a Back-to-School Bash. The event, which saw nearly 200 children and families and hosted 20 vendors, kicked off the start of a new schoolyear. Vendors provided support and information on a wide range of services, including information about mental health awareness, food and nutrition, safety, literacy and more.
麻豆精品 S淚 have a heart to serve. I 麻豆精品 S檓 so grateful to have received so much support, especially from the organization nonprofit organization Above & Beyond for Change, 麻豆精品 S� Mahaloo says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey 麻豆精品 S檝e helped with funding each of my initiatives 麻豆精品 S� I couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 do this without them. I want to continue garnering support from other community members, too. If we all wrap our arms around these underserved kids, just imagine what they could do. 麻豆精品 S�
Looking Toward the Future
Mahaloo is looking forward to welcoming her students back to the classroom this fall. This year, she 麻豆精品 S檒l be teaching third grade after spending nine years with first graders and kindergarteners.
麻豆精品 S淚 look forward to meeting my students and applying many of the same concepts that I 麻豆精品 S檝e learned in school to a testing grade, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
She also plans to launch a STEM club for students.
麻豆精品 S淲orking at a Title I school, we have limited resources, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut I wanted to put something together for students who have a desire and willingness to get involved in STEM-related activities. I 麻豆精品 S檝e secured snap circuits, a 3D printer and Lego WeDo, and am working to get other materials that will provide fun, hands-on experiences for kids. 麻豆精品 S�
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And after the final bell rings at school and everyone leaves for the day, Mahaloo will transition from teacher to student. Recently accepted into a doctoral program at UCF, she starts working toward her EdD in curriculum and instruction this fall.
麻豆精品 S淢y entire goal in life is to positively impact my society, my community, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 want to empower students to take control of their world. They 麻豆精品 S檙e no longer a passive participant just sitting in listening to me. You know you 麻豆精品 S檙e doing something good when it 麻豆精品 S檚 the end of the school week and you tell the kids, 麻豆精品 S業 麻豆精品 S檒l see you Monday 麻豆精品 S� and they say, 麻豆精品 S榃ait 麻豆精品 S� no school tomorrow? 麻豆精品 S� That 麻豆精品 S檚 worth it to me. 麻豆精品 S�
