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A Day in the Life of YES Prep Teacher Chris Fraser

February 08, 2011 by Jeremy Jones

Our founder and CEO Chris Barbic once sent me a quote that goes something like this, "The difference between mediocre and magnificent are the countless unseen details."  That quote really struck a chord with me because I do a lot of visits with prospective teachers after which the prospect walks away with a sense that at YES Prep we swim in chocolate rivers and jump to put our hands in cotton candy clouds.  Well, that just isn't true at all.  Our teachers work relentlessly to ensure that our schools are safe, that they focus on preparing our students for college graduation and that we empower our students to own the outcome.  I asked a friend and colleague of mine, Chris Fraser, to articulate those details for me so we could post it here on the blog.  We decided that a look at his daily schedule might illuminate the work it takes to ensure our school is a great place for our students. 

  • 5:15:  Wake up, sigh loudly, and try to convince myself I can lay down for another 5 minutes.  My Terrier has other ideas, so I get some fresh air first thing in the morning walking my dog.
  • 5:45: Pull into 24 Hour Fitness for a quick workout before a packed day.  Beats coffee for the energy needed to teach teenagers.
  • 7:00:  Arrive at YES Prep North Central to gameplan for the day.  Write homework on the board, do battle with the copy machine for the day’s reading, and set up my overhead projector for a big day of Social Studies.
  • 7:30-8:00:  Greeter Duty- I monitor the front area of the school and greet over 800 students who are rubbing their eyes but still able to muster a “Good Morning” as they head to the Great Hall for breakfast and last minute studying.
  • 8:00-11:00:  First three 9thGrade World Geography classes.  Today, students are presenting their Middle East Key Player projects to the class, practicing their communication skills as well as displaying their research of the cultures of Southwest Asia.
  • 11:00-11:30:  9thGrade Advisory- 30 Freshman come to my class each week to discuss their study habits, time management, and problem solve with upperclassman.  This is a huge component of school culture, as students are able to create bonds among themselves outside of the academic setting and gain some real advice from seniors who have been there before.
  • 11:30-12:00:  Lunch/Writing Tutorials- I scarf down a 6-inch Subway Club while helping a few struggling freshmen with their writing skills.
  • 12:00-1:00:  12thGrade Economics Class- I present a lecture to the seniors on Marginal Analysis and the Factors of Production in a college-simulation course that combines the lecture content delivery they will see next year and seminar style discussions, which they will lead tomorrow.
  • 1:00-2:00:  9thGrade World Geography- by the 4thclass of the day it’s finally running the way I want it J
  • 2:00-3:00:  My long awaited, but fast-moving planning period.  I look over some Economics blog posts my seniors posted while calling up my dentist trying to schedule an appointment.  By the time I check my emails and write up a lesson plan for later in the week, the  bell rings…
  • 3:00-4:00:  Last Geography class of the day
  • 4:00-4:45:  9thGrade level meeting- the Freshman teachers get together to discuss student concerns, academic trends, and what food to bring for our grade level Family Gathering on Friday.
  • 4:45-5:00:  Walk students out the buses and see them off/warn them to do their homework!
  • 5:00-5:30:  Meeting with a parent of a student who has been struggling in his classes.  We action plan and all commit to some extra tutorials and ensure our student is properly supported, yet gets the proper motivation from all sides to improve.
  • 5:30-6:00:  Frantically get my classroom back to a presentable shape, and doing what I can to prepare the room for tomorrow.
  • 6:30-7:30:   Meet some friends at Lupe Tortilla for some well-deserved Beef Fajitas and non-school conversation.
  • 8-9:30:  A cornucopia of tasks on my computer while watching college basketball.  This gives me a chance to get caught up on emails, enter some grades, write some thank-you notes to some students showing some extra effort, and make some strides on a Research Project I had been designing.

Chris graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Finance in 2005.  He taught 6ththrough 8thgrade Social Studies in HISD for two years with Teach For America.  After two years, Chris joined Teach For America’s staff in Atlanta, GA, recruiting professionals and graduates across the country to join the corps.  In 2009, Chris came back to Houston to work at YES Prep North Central, where he currently teaches 9thand 12thgrades social studies, and some of the seniors he is sending off the college are the same students he taught his first year at HISD!

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