Classroom Caffeine
Classroom Caffeine
A Conversation with Mona Jain
Dr. Mona Jain talks to us about keys to success in her long and outstanding career in education as sincerity, integrity, humanity, courtesy, wisdom, and charity. In 2019, the School District of Manatee County in Florida dedicated Dr. Mona Jain Middle School in her honor. Mona’s encouraging message for teachers showcases the importance of connections to the community and continuous learning over the course of a lifetime. Dr. Jain holds two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree earned through a fellowship with the National Science Foundation, an education specialist degree, a medical doctorate, and a Ph.D. Dr. Jain is a self-proclaimed lifelong learner and now a professional volunteer.
To cite this episode:
Persohn, L. (Host). (2021, Aug 31). A conversation with Mona Jain. (Season 2, No. 8) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/8980-9C5B-8701-8939-45CD-H
Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
In education research has a problem. The work of brilliant education researchers often doesn't reach the practice of brilliant teachers. But the questions and challenges from teachers practice sometimes don't become the work of education researchers. Classroom caffeine is here to help. In a new episode every other week, I talk with an education researcher or a classroom teacher about what they have learned from their work in education, and what questions they still pursue. In this episode, Dr. Mona Jain talks to us about keys to success and her long and outstanding career in education, sincerity, integrity, humanity, courtesy, wisdom and charity. In 2019, the school district of Manatee County in Florida dedicated Dr. Mona Jain Middle School in her honor. Mona's encouraging message for teachers showcases the importance of connections to the community and continuous learning over the course of a lifetime. Dr Jain holds two bachelor's degrees, a master's degree earned through a fellowship with the National Science Foundation, and education specialist degree, a medical doctorate and a PhD. Dr. Jain is a self proclaimed lifelong learner and now a professional volunteer. For more information about our guest, stay tuned to the end of this episode. So pour a cup of your favorite morning drink. And join me your host Lindsay Persohn. For classroom caffeine research to energize your teaching practice. Mona, thank you for joining me. Welcome to the show.
Mona Jain:You're welcome.
Lindsay Persohn:From your own experiences and education. Will you share with us one or two moments that inform your thinking now,
Mona Jain:the students that I have taught since 1961 have always stated that I was one of the strictest teacher. But they learned and excelled not only in high school, but also in college and graduate schools. Many of them are doctors, lawyers, nurses, legislators, Foreign Service officers, and educators. On numerous occasions, I have been in meetings and conferences where my former students have come up to me and say I became a science teacher, educator professor, because you were my mentor and role model at the school board of Manatee County meeting. My former students colleagues, community leaders came to support by nomination for all over from state and country. And they were of diverse ethnic groups, different age groups, and they talked about it. I was honored and humbled. And you know what happened that all five school board voted to nominate the middle school as Dr. Mona Jain Middle School. During my last visit a former student of Indian School, who has read about me and naming the school wanted to meet me. He and I had coffee together. He was the Minister of External Affairs, which is called Secretary of State and also the Minister of law and justice. One of my life's most special moments was recognition in my home country of India, when I will granted a private audience with international humanitarian Mother Teresa, summer of 1985. She has now St. Teresa. I am a self described lifelong learner. I take that continual learning benefits all phases of our lives. With perseverance we can achieve any and all goals that we set our minds to and our hearts to also, I remember Confucius said, teaching and learning go together. Looking back what most important is having the ability to give back to my students, my alma mater and the greater community. Seeing the impact of my work for many decades reminds me why I chose to pursue a career in education. If you are planning for a lifetime, you educate people. And as a Teacher of teachers is an added bonus, because it is passed on to the children it impacts the whole society also.
Lindsay Persohn:What else, Mona, do you want our listeners to know about your work?
Unknown:I remember Dr. William Menninger observed six essential qualities keys to success that I believe in those sincerity, personal integrity, humanity, Courtesy, wisdom and charity. These described my character in the classroom and beyond. I retired as director of MD health services or Manatee County Headstart was a Fulbright and National Science Foundation scholar, medical doctor and a teacher administrators since 1961. In the American British and Indian systems of education. I believe in education for all students, especially continuing education for non traditional students, mentoring and positive role models assist students and others to move forward in their educational journey. This led me to serve on the Florida commission on education, and also the past chair and Executive Board of the Florida Commission on the Status of woman, president of the American Association of University Women, and numerous other organizations. A founding member of USF woman in leadership and philanthropy along with my daughter, Dr. Anila Jain, Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, both Sarasota Manatee as well as the whole university system. And educators biggest reward is knowing what you did as a teacher or an administrator or a supervisor. That is the relationship you foster. These relationships have a direct impact on the lives of students and community. And it really is rewarding. You have to be dedicated to it.
Mona Jain:You know that even my dissertation for my PhD at USF had the topic, a survey of teacher perceptions at elementary, middle, junior high and high school levels, selected, teachers education centers were picked. And I found that it's very important that we train the teachers or we work with the teachers more like facilitators, because they are the ones who are going to get it to the classroom. So developing plans to take education in schools in the right direction is easier said than done. First challenges lies in identifying underlying problems keeping students from learning today, this challenge may change considerably depending on who is labeling them whether it is students, parents, educators and others or law makers. So I would say teacher recruitment, retention and diversity are important and there are few others also, which are needed, like social and emotional learning, assessment of accountability, technology broadband access. after school programs summer programs, expanded learning early childhood education and literacy for both children and parents, inclusiveness culturally responsive curriculum, adequate state funding to support public schools educational endeavors have very different challenge from 30s 40s and 50 years ago, we have to keep up with these changes to better serve the students of today. And another thing I would like to say also is that content area when teachers go for their bachelor's or master's degree, it's good to have a content area concentration. And then of course, the education or the practice teaching, I call it, internship, whatever we call it, but to know your subject, area, like I taught biology, I had to know all branches of biology, not because I liked marine science, or I liked botany, I had to have so that I can set up things right. And left to carry is very important hands on experiences. And as a chair, when I was teaching in Indian School, I have to teach this class in elementary, middle and high school also, so that I knew what the curriculum is what is going on, and experimentation starts in kindergarten in little growing a little seed into a plant.
Lindsay Persohn:But understanding that that's part of a larger, you know, building of concepts across time, I think is so important. And, and what you're saying reminds me of something that I feel like I've really learned over the last few years, even even though I've been in education for close to 20 years now, I think I'm just really beginning to internalize this idea that teachers have got to know so much more about a subject than they need to teach. Because you have to understand the complexities and the ins and outs in order to be able to convey that to students. So I think that for me, that's been one of the things I've learned in the last few years is just how much I need to continue growing my own knowledge so that when a student does come with a complex question, or when they're really trying to get to a fine grained understanding of a concept, I have to know, even more than I need to explain to them,
Mona Jain:I would add on to this that we are facilitators, and it's not we try to know more, because it's dynamic education, we need to know more, but sometimes also, there is a way that I might not know the answer, I don't have to fib about it. I can say oh, the students are smart, they can use the computer laptops, libraries and media centers. So I sometimes would say okay, let's find the answer together. Or you go and find the answer and come back and tell the class. knowledge is so much that it's really hard to keep everything in. So main thing is where to find the answers is important also. So I agree with you, that you are we are learning as a teacher, and we have to stay a step ahead or 10 steps or 100 steps ahead. But students are smarter, if we give them an opportunity, they will come out. So it's not that Oh, I have an issue or a problem. We should be problem solvers also.
Lindsay Persohn:Right? Right, not just the problem. But let's find out why and how to figure that out too
Mona Jain:solutions are really important.
Lindsay Persohn:Simona given the challenges of today's educational climate, what message do you want teachers to hear?
Mona Jain:I think, whatever we do in life, if we are honest about it, we put in our 100 Plus in it, and we are successful, we should be proud of it. But I think education has a special place. Because my mom always told me after my three brothers, I was the one and they wanted me to have the education like anyone else. And she would say stand up, get educated. Because education is something which no one can snatch from you. No one can steal from you. The more you share, the more it grows. And I think education and educators make it together. It's a calling because in this materialistic world And with the COVID-19 everything going on we are learning that how important it is to share and be there for each other. And love the learning which keeps us sane and going. So I think educators in my country, India, my country of birth now, of course, I'm proud of United States my adopted country, but we respect them next to our parents, because we are learning from them, which is very important. Good luck to all the educators all the people working, whether at the school level, college level, university level, and of course their parents who are the primary educators and to the community. Because it comes back as we share. community, it's all about community isn't all about community. It's all about teamwork. A person is an island by itself. But all of us together can make a positive difference in our lives and another's lives.
Lindsay Persohn:Thank you so much for your time today. And thank you so much for your contributions to the field of education you. Dr. Mohinder Mona Jain is known in her community and globally as a champion for students, women and families, and as a philanthropist in education and health care. In her career in education, she held teaching and administrative positions in American British and Indian systems of education, and was Director of Family Health Services with the Headstart program for Manatee County, Florida. She served on the Florida Governor's Commission on education, sits on the board for the United Nations Sarasota Manatee chapter co founded the Sarasota Florida chapter of UNIFEM, which is the UN's Organization for Women and served as chair for the Florida Commission on the Status of Women and as a commissioner for a total of 18 years. She's received countless awards and recognitions from the local community, including the distinction as a woman of valor, Manatee County lifetime of caring achievement award with her daughter, Dr. Anila Jain, the chair emeritus of women's equity day in her area, and she holds a key to the city of Bradenton, Florida. She's the recipient of the Dean's Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of South Florida College of Education. USF Distinguished Alumni Award distinguished Professional Achievement Award from USF Sarasota Manatee campus, the National Community Service Award from the American Medical Women's Association, and was an honorary member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mona came to the United States from India as one of the youngest ever recipients of the Fulbright Teaching Award in 1964. After teaching in the US for several years, Mona went back to India where she served as a teacher and as dean at the Delhi public school in New Delhi. There she co authored biology lab manuals and general science textbooks for students conducted workshops and summer Institute's for biology teachers, and founded the Fulbright alumni association. In 1970, she returned to the US where she has been learning and supporting education and her community ever since. In 2019, the school district of Manatee County in Florida, dedicated Dr. Mona Jain Middle School in her honor. Mona holds two bachelor's degrees, a master's degree earned through a fellowship with the National Science Foundation, an education specialist degree, a medical doctorate, and a PhD. Dr. Mona Jane is a self described lifelong learner and now a professional volunteer. For the good of all students, good research should should inform good practice and vice versa. listeners are invited to respond to an episode learn more about our guests, search past episodes, or request a topic or conversation with a specific person through our website at classroom caffeine.com. If you've learned something today, or just enjoyed listening, please be encouraged to talk about what you heard with your colleagues, and subscribe and review this podcast through your podcast provider. As always, I raised my mug to you teachers. Thanks for joining me