GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Courtney Glinka, a teacher at Harrison Park Academy, traces her passion for education and community service back to her childhood in Flint.
“It created me to be a teacher who is culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and an activist,” Glinka explains. “My mission as a teacher is to foster a learning environment where students can build community with their peers, use their voices for a purpose, care for their mental health, and fall in love with the nature around them.”
Glinka knows that she can make an impact that will last a lifetime. One example is an annual field trip to Lake Michigan.
“Many students who live in the city don’t have the means to travel to the beach,” she said. “They were in awe that it was a lake and not an ocean. To watch my refugee students run up and down the sand dunes and watch the waves crash on their feet is a memory I will forever remember.”
She chooses to work at GRPS because of the different backgrounds of scholars and staff, helping to create a vibrant community.
“I believe learning through our diversities and life challenges we experience can help others improve,” Glinka said. “The community we build in Room 214 is unique and shines brightly at Harrison Park.”
Glinka’s impact extends far beyond Room 214 - leaving a lasting imprint on her scholars and the future of our community.
