City Year Detroit School Partner Spotlight – Nkosi Shorter

City Year Detroit’s school team at Marion Law Academy nominated Nkosi Shorter for our School Partner Spotlight, in part, because of his strong embodiment of several of our values such as teamwork, level-five leadership, and belief in the power of young people. Mr. Shorter is a fourth-grade teacher and leads Marion Law Academy’s safety patrol, Chess Club, and math and spelling bees. Impact Manager Kendall Lindsey described Mr. Shorter as a champion of City Year and remarked on the amazing partnership Mr. Shorter has cultivated with his student success coach Mr. Nate. We asked Mr. Shorter some questions to help you get to know this phenomenal teacher better.

1. How many years have you been in education?

I have been in education as a teacher for 24 years.

2. What’s the most rewarding part of being a teacher?

The most rewarding part of being a teacher is seeing my students grow intellectually and achieve their academic goals. I want all of my students to be productive citizens in society.

3. How do you work with City Year at your school?

The City Year plays a supporting role in my classroom. The City Year helps me by giving my students added small-group educational support and instruction. This allows students who are achieving below their grade level to gain the skills needed to get them back on their grade level. City Year also helps me by monitoring the students’ social-emotional learning, getting the classroom ready for lessons by passing out lesson materials, overseeing students during recess and field trips, and helping me supervise group activities.

4. What’s a fun fact about you?

I am the school’s chess club coach and chess team coach. When I was a child in the 7th grade, I joined my school’s chess club. In addition, I wanted the elementary and middle students to have the same opportunity that I had. Therefore, I started a chess club and chess team at my school.

Thank you, Mr. Shorter, for your dedication to students at Marion Law Academy!