Natalie Handley is a public cyber teacher creating life-long learners and productive members of our world through high expectations, accessible education, and anti-bias.
Downingtown Area School District’s Downingtown Cyber Academy
Fifth to Eighth Math, Fifth Science, and Fifth Social Studies
About
Since earning my first Pennsylvania Department of Education teaching license in May 2020 and joining public cyber education in November 2020, I’ve found a passion for the unique and empowering qualities of online learning. In my virtual classroom, my students and I are hold each other to high standards. We focus on learning as a process, and for that reason, we embrace challenges.
All materials I create or gather for my students are designed to be accessible and promote collaboration, rigor, engagement, and agency.
Education
1. May 2020: The Pennsylvania State University - B.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, minor in Education and Public Policy
2. May 2022: American College of Education - M.Ed. of Curriculum and Instruction, conc. K-6 Mathematics
3. Present: West Chester University’s Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology
I hope to pursue a doctoral program by 2024.
Certifications
I have slowly worked my way into the older grades! I love younger students, but in the interest of expanding my personal education, I have studied for and earned four teaching licenses so far:
1. May 2020: Instructional 1 - Grades PK-4 (2825)
2. March 2021: Instructional 1 - Grades 5-6 (2826)
3. March 2022: Instructional 1 - Grades 4-8 (All subjects 4-6, Mathematics 7-8) (3100)
4. October 2022: Instructional 1 - Grades 4-8 (All subjects 4-6, Science 7-8) (3100)
My commitment to Anti-Bias
I commit to
Use organic, teachable moments to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Actively stand against the school-to-prison pipeline by minimizing punishment and maximizing redirection and positive reinforcement.
Foster collaborative relationships with students’ families that use cultural values as a tool to student success.
Create materials that both mirror my students’ identities and create windows into identities that contrast my students’.
Call out micro and macro aggressions in the school setting and offer language that counters racism.
Image credit to James Eades on Unsplash
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
— Albert Einstein
Accessibility Note
This website is intended to be accessible. If you have feedback regarding the accessibility of this website, please email Natalie Handley at nhandley@dasd.org, or call her at 610-269-8460 ext. 26502. To learn more about creating accessible websites, please visit U.C. Berkeley’s Top 10 Tips for Making Accessible Websites or Squarespace’s Making Your Squarespace Site More Accessible.
