Led by Learners: Reflections on Teaching, Learning, and Growing Together.

Who is Jen Phillips?

The Day I Knew I Wanted to Teach

I was eight years old when I first realized I wanted to be a teacher. It was January 28, 1986—the day the Challenger Shuttle took off into the sky, carrying Christa McAuliffe, a teacher who inspired millions. I watched in awe, and then heartbreak, as the shuttle exploded. In that moment, I didn’t just see tragedy. I saw l…