An overseas teaching experience convinced Amy Bancroft to be a special education teacher.
“I knew I was always going to be in a school, and at first I thought I wanted to be a counselor. But after teaching a year in China, I had to be in a classroom,” Bancroft said.
Bancroft started as an English teacher in 2017 after attending the University of Colorado and the University of Southern California. She found her desire to become a special education teacher while teaching English in California.
“When I had classes of 35 kids each, I knew I could not give every child what they needed, and it always really bothered me,” Bancroft said.
She moved to Pittsburgh and earned her second master’s degree, in special education, from Point Park University. She said she loves the idea of individualizing each student’s education to specialize in what they need.
As an educator, Bancroft sees teaching as an opportunity to help her students find meaning beyond the classroom.
“School is supposed to help you figure out what you believe in and enjoy, and I think that applies to the academics as well,” Bancroft said. “My job as a teacher is to guide students in exploring different ways to access literature and numbers so they can make meaning out of them long after they graduate.”
Bancroft has enjoyed her experience at Baldwin.
“I love the structure here at Baldwin,” Bancroft said. “We have an amazing admin, and most schools do not have that. Our principals respect their teachers and treat us like adults. The student body’s passion makes me more passionate to want to be here.”
