Perspectives of Service-Learning: S-LTA Lea Choukroun

Contributed by Suzie Kim, S-L Program Assistant and Co-op.

Photos provided by Jessica Drench from 826 Boston and by the Service-Learning Program at Northeastern University.

This is one of a 3 part series exploring the partnership between Erika Koss' service-learning First-Year College Writing course and 826 Boston.

Lea Choukroun is a second-year behavioral neuroscience major and a seasoned service-learning student. As part of her Inquiries of Cell & Molecular Biology course, Lea served at Citizens Schools,a nonprofit that partners with public middle schools in low-income communities to provide an expanded learning day. It was her experience as a volunteer at Citizens Schools that sparked her love and curiosity of education theories and methods. 

“I became really interested in the American education system, about how it works and the history behind it. I wanted to know more about it,” she explained. 

The following semester, Lea promptly enrolled in Polly Attwood’s Education in the Community course and served at Ellis Memorial, a nonprofit that works to strengthen Boston's inner city working families with high quality education and care for children, youth and vulnerable adults.

Lea's fascination for teaching extended far beyond the walls of the courses that she was enrolled for. Her curiosity led her to apply to be a service-learning teaching assistant (S-LTA) last spring semester. She already knew what she wanted out of her experience.

"I was really interested in the behind the scenes [process] of being a professor," she said. However, what she gained was more than just what she had hoped for, starting with her mentor-mentee relationship with Erika Koss.

Lea and Erika Koss

When they first sat down for a meeting, Lea and Erika discussed both their mutual goals for the students of the First-Year College Writing course as well as Lea's own personal/professional goals as an S-LTA.

"[When Erika asked me], 'What do you want to do?' I said, 'Anything and everything I can help with.'"

Lea and Erika's relationship extends past just the classroom. Erika is a mentor to Lea by advising her on her personal development as well. In fact, when I walked into Erika’s office to interview her, she and Lea had been finishing discussing reconnecting when Erika returns from Africa and also other opportunities to partner in the future semesters. 

Erika put great effort into creating learning opportunities and Lea embraced them wholeheartedly.

Her face lit up as she explained all the responsibilities she was given as the S-LTA. "At the beginning, [Erika] just had me take attendance and then that turned into 'research this [topic] and present [it] in class.' And then it became 'teach class for the whole period today.' Then it was 'Here you go, blackboard is yours. Mark all the Blackboard discussions and come up with a Service-Learning rubric.'"

“She really trusted me and I really appreciated it that,” Lea said. We hope that Lea has an amazing semester abroad as she continues to expand her passion for teaching (and also that she returns to Service-Learning the following Spring semester!)

Lea and 826 Boston

With the snowmageddon of 2015, there was a great deal of flexibility required to reorganize and schedule. Lea was right in the fray, managing stakeholders. She worked closely with the staff of 826 Boston (to read more about 826 Boston and their role in Erika Koss’ First Year College Writing course, click here. To learn more about 826 Boston, click here)

One of the challenges Lea faced as an S-LTA was organizing and scheduling site visits with the course's community partner 826 Boston. The course is a different style of service-learing as some of the service happened during class hours. 

Lea works with a 7th grade student on ink prints for the cover art of the publication.

Lea's class traveled together to Boston Teachers Union School (BTU). Students first partnered with younger students of BTU and worked to create cover art for their upcoming publication. Then, they started one-on-one tutoring to help with the writing process, where Erika's students incorporated lessons learned in their own course for their tutoring sessions with the BTU students.

"[The staff of 826 Boston] was very understanding when the [snowstorms hit]. They were always willing to communicate and be flexible with the students' schedules," Lea said on her experience working with 826 Boston.

Looking forward

“[My experience as an S-LTA] really solidified and clarified my wish to be a teacher,” Lea said. “All the things I was doing for the class, like preparing reflection questions and rubrics were things I’ve always wanted to do.”

She even joked, "I would almost rather do all that than go to my own classes."

This coming fall semester, Lea is ready to pack-up and move to Bali for her international co-op at the Green School.

"They teach from the theory of 'green education.' The school itself has no walls." Lea explained. The school is heavily integrated with the neighborhood that surrounds it. Community members volunteer to cook meals for the staff and students. In return, Green School has their own brand of service-learning in which course instruction integrates several hours of community service a week for their students.

"I wanted to see the operation of different organizations and different teaching methods. I'm interested in what is most effective and what is not."

We hope that Lea has an amazing semester abroad as she continues to expand her passion for teaching (and also that she returns to the S-L program the following spring semester!).

Be sure to check out faculty member Erika Koss' and 826 Boston's perspectives as well!