About Michelle
Hometown: Edison, NJ
Degree: B.A. in Public Policy; Minor in Education, Duke University 2020
Michelle Qiou (pronouns: she/her, they/them) is currently pursuing their Elementary Teaching License through Duke University’s Program in Education. They received a Bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 2020, where they studied Public Policy and Education. At Duke, Michelle was involved in an on-going Bass Connections research team called “University-Assisted Community Schools” that they have now returned to as a co-project manager.
In the years after graduating college, Michelle worked in New York as a Business Analyst for Accenture LLC, and then as an Administrative Manager for Harlem Village Academies. After realizing those jobs weren’t their calling, Michelle took some time off of working full-time. They ultimately decided to pursue teaching and return to Durham, where they first found their passion for education.
Why do you want to become a teacher?
I want to become a teacher because to me it's the kind of role that can get at the heart of a lot of societal issues. Teaching is an art of facilitation, space-making, and change-making. In the classroom, teachers not only encourage learning of skills and knowledge, but they also help students to know themselves better as humans, to be in right relationship with their peers, to be critical of the state of the world, and to feel empowered to make a change. I know that teaching will be very difficult but I feel motivated to get good at it.
