Season 1, Episode 10
Your starter pack to mentorship, starring Serena Klosa
Today on Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres gets wisdom from Serena Klosa, an educator with 37 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and now deputy chief of schools. Serena discusses what it takes to be a good mentor and to be mentored by others—stressing the humility it requires and the strength it creates. She also shares stories of the “Queens of the Third Floor” and their no-nonsense approach to mentoring, and opens up about the lessons she won’t let herself forget. Taking all those lessons back to the classroom, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross discuss maintaining positive routines with students, staying humble, and valuing every role in the school.
Meet our guest, Serena Klosa.
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Serena Klosa has been a dedicated educator since 1988, starting in the Chicago suburbs and joining Chicago Public Schools in 1991. She spent 13 years at Pulaski Academy as an eighth grade math, science, and reading teacher. In 2004, Serena became an assistant principal at McAuliffe Elementary, where she improved Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) scores and advocated for diverse learners. As the principal of Ebinger Elementary from 2011 to 2022, she transformed the school into a K–8 IB school and expanded its facilities. A recipient of the prestigious Cahn Distinguished Principals Fellowship, Serena also holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Loyola University.
Meet our host, Ana Torres.
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Ana has been an educator for 30 years, working in both the K–8 and higher education sectors. She served as an administrator and instructor at various public and private colleges and universities and as a bilingual and dual language teacher, dual language math and reading interventionist, dual language instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal in K–8 schools. Ana is currently the bilingual and multilingual specialist on Amplify’s product specialist team, and delivers literacy and biliteracy presentations across the nation. Ana’s passion and advocacy for biliteracy and multiculturalism has led her to educate leaders, teachers, and parents about the positive impact of bilingualism and biliteracy in our world.
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Meet our Classroom Insider, Eric Cross.
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Eric Cross is a middle school science teacher who hopes to someday be a lifelong educator, like the guests on Beyond My Years! In each episode, Eric connects with host Ana Torres to discuss her guests’ best insights gleaned from their long and rewarding careers in the classroom. Then, Eric talks about bringing some of their wisdom into his current classroom and busy life.
Transcripts and additional resources
Quotes
- “Be open to learning … that also means standing back and being a reflective learner.” —Serena Klosa
- “Every kick in the butt is a boost up.” —Serena Klosa
- “My teaching is not something I do. It’s who I am.” —Serena Klosa
- “Asking for mentoring is not a sign of weakness. It’s saying, ‘I want to be better and I want to grow.’ And sometimes, if you don’t ask, they’re not going to do it.” —Serena Klosa
- “I coach some people who are thinking about becoming principals. I’m like, ‘Hey, slow it down…wait for that perfect school for you. You’ll know it.’ You don’t just want the role to have the title.” —Serena Klosa
- “Don’t forget where you came from. There were times I had to shovel snow. There were times I had to help sweep the lunchroom. There are times that I covered a classroom so my teacher can have a prep. That gives you so much credibility and it shows how much you care about others.” —Serena Klosa
