Valerie Mickel

Hello my name is Valerie Fair Mickel and I currently reside in Rock Hill, South Carolina. I was born and raised in Wyandanch, NY which is on Long Island. I was sent south during my high school years to live with my grandmother and after her passing I stayed so I am now an official southern girl. My family still lives up north on the eastern coast.

I am a teacher who has taught elementary school for 27 years. I currently teach Physical Education and I love the children very much. I currently work at Rosewood International Elementary school which is an International Baccalaureate® (IB) inquiry based learning facility. We work collaboratively with schools, and educators, and we develop distinctive, high quality programs of international education to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students. The program in which I teach influences thinking about international education globally. I have been a part of an IB school for 10 years now and I still love every part of the curriculum.

I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Winthrop University in Rock Hill South Carolina. I completed my Master of Education Degree in Educational Technology from Lesley University Cambridge Massachusetts, and I am currently working on my doctoral degree from University of Phoenix.

For relaxation I enjoy reading, surfing the Internet, Gospel music, Rhythms and Blues music, dancing, and swimming and spending time with my children and especially my BFF who is 6 years old (we are inseparable). My BFF's name is Amani but I call her Wootie.

I love spending time at home in my comfortable recliner, going to and working in my church, watching movies (great collection of DVD's) and choreographing dances.

I am making improvements on my life like taking better care of myself which I have started to do. I am taking more time for me because I give so much of my time to others. I want to have a better appearance (not wearing my hair in ponytail all the time, wearing dresses and heels to church).

I have a personal dream to become a scholar, practitioner, and leader in a STEM school environment. I want to work with African American boys and improving their educational outlook, their hopes and dreams. I want to possess the confidence to teach educational technology like I have the confidence to teach children in physical education.