As the eldest sibling with parents who never graduated from high school, Brassfield always felt like she needed to be a positive role model for her younger brothers and sisters. That was exactly what she set out to do through modeling discipline, drive, and determination and serving as an example that the only way their family could get out of poverty was by furthering their education.  Fast forward a few decades and now, this 2010 graduate of the Touro University Graduate School of Education’s (GSE) Childhood Education & Special Education (Grades 1-6) program is a 20-year veteran of the NYC Department of Education who recently made the transition from teacher to Teacher Development Coach.

Brassfield began her career in education in 2001 as a paraprofessional at the P373R school in Staten Island, a school serving students with special needs in pre-K to 8th grade. In 2008, Brassfield took the next step in her career, becoming a full-fledged teacher after receiving her bachelor's degree in Sociology/Anthropology from the College of Staten Island.

“I was a bilingual child who spoke both Spanish and English. Although I was never diagnosed with any learning difficulties, looking back I believe I struggled with dyslexia and ended up teaching myself how to navigate the academic rules of both languages to be successful in school. Therefore, I’m passionate about teaching students how to read. My love for helping others who are struggling pushed me to enter the special education field, and throughout my career, I have participated in several academic recovery professional development conferences and am a Certified Dyslexic Therapist,” said Brassfield.

Just last year, this GSE alumna advanced her career once again when she became a Teacher Development Coach, a key role that enables her to mentor other teachers and meet with them routinely to collaborate on creating lesson plans and differentiating them based on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), as well as showcase strategies for her fellow educators to leverage to better help their students who are each experiencing unique challenges due to their varied learning abilities.

Why Choosing GSE Was an Easy Choice

Brassfield credits GSE for her ongoing success and proven ability to climb the educational career ladder.

“I first came to GSE after looking at other colleges. Touro immediately stood out to me as it was the only program that could meet the needs of a working mother of young children since it offered me the flexibility I needed to excel in my studies while also being located close to home. Each class I took gave me the opportunity to critically think about pedagogical theories and educational practices used, while the coursework brought clarity to my work in the field and gave me the vital knowledge needed to maximize learning productivity in the classroom,” said Brassfield.

She added that she utilizes important classroom management skills learned at GSE on the job daily and that the course she took on students with disabilities was vital as it provided her with up-to-date information on various disabilities that she references when implementing a variety of teaching methods for specific students with different learning challenges.

“Because I was forced to deal with many hard situations from a young age, I can better empathize with my students and put myself in their shoes. For example, one year I had a student who would come into class and sleep all the time. Eventually, he opened up and told me that he lived in a homeless shelter and was forced to stay up all night to protect his belongings. After discovering what this child’s home life was like, I realized that sometimes it’s important to make certain accommodations and to this day, if a student needs extra sleep or even food, I ensure their basic needs are met before we embark on the learning process,” said Brassfield.

According to Brassfield, it’s critical to build form strong relationships with your students, which helps to open the door to a well-rounded education. Also, an educator must be passionate about his or her career and the desire to teacher other “must come from the heart as there are rarely accolades or a high salary that will be given to you just for doing your job.”

“Being a teacher has been my dream since I was in high school. In fact, under my high school senior picture in my yearbook, it says that is my dream career. I’m very proud I was able to overcome a difficult early childhood and make a positive impact on the lives of others experiencing similar difficulties,” said Brassfield.

Keynote Speaker at GSE’s Hooding Ceremony

On June 12, the GSE Hooding Ceremony for the class of 2022 recognized students who completed the requirements for a master’s degree and advanced certification. During the event, Brassfield served as keynote speaker, where she helped to honor Touro students who demonstrated commitment, intellectual growth, and leadership capacity. The Hooding Ceremony is a proud tradition where graduates are presented with a hood as part of the commencement regalia.