My Education Philosophy: I believe in real-world learning that happens in tandem with our known environment. I believe that reflective practice is essential to shaping our understanding. I integrate the arts and humanities, writing, film and music, as tools that students can use to reflect and creatively imagine new ideas and concepts. My research and classroom practice integrates newly found discoveries in human development research and brain science. I am proud to be implementing learning strategies that leverage our growing knowledge about metacognition and its impact on students who will be tasked with solving the complex issues facing our world.
Role: Postsecondary Pathway Consultant
Acceleration Academies pairs flexible online coursework with intensive academic and career coaching. Acceleration Academies is one of the many alternative high schools challenging traditional K-12 education structures using available and emerging technologies.
In 2023-24 my focus is on Acceleration Academies' Public Charter Schools in South Carolina. Using quantitative and qualitative data we are meeting SC Ready Standards, engaged in a Comprehensive School Improvement plan and building CTE completer pathways. I work alongside school principals in helping them attain and exceed their goals.
Role: Postsecondary Workforce Training Consultant
Santa Fe Community College offers multiple workforce training programs that dovetail with economic development initiatives in the city, county and state. Non-credit workforce programs are growing in popularity and offer students short-term and accelerated skills training that puts them to work in better paying jobs quickly.
I work with college leaders to build accelerated and alternative education programs for unemployed and underemployed workers who are excluded from participating in programs like WIOA or JTIP.
Role: Qualitative Researcher
Ann Black Consulting, LLC works across the Southwestern United States in securing grants for work based learning (WBL) and STEM programs.
As a qualitative researcher I support grant outcomes by providing critical data that helps improve processes in education and workforce training. My goal is to accurately represent the voices of the people impacted by these grants ensuring a culturally-sensitive and human-centric process.
Role: Writer/Filmmaker
As an independent researcher and educator, I use my past experience as a filmmaker to interview students about their experiences in our schools and colleges. As higher education is reimagined in the United States, I am able to combine theory and practice to look at the world through students eyes, gaining new perspectives from the very people our systems are intended to benefit. My work adds to the million new stories emerging in high school and postsecondary education.
Contact me for more information: linkedin.com/in/moniqueanair