An Interview with
Joel Thompson
Rice Alum Class of 2016
Joel Thompson graduated from Rice University in the winter of 2016. He double majored in history and policy studies. After graduating from Rice, Joel committed himself to Teach for America and he began to teach at Frick Impact Academy in Oakland, California. After completing his two year commitment with Teach for America, Joel is now teaching for a third year at Frick Impact Academy.
Spencer: What made you want to go into teaching at a low-income school in another part of the country after graduating from Rice?
Joel: I want to fight inequality, racism, economic inequality, and white supremacy. And I also want to fight for educational equity and equal opportunity. I also love working with kids and I love learning about new cultures. And I don’t like sitting at a desk because I like to have a job where I am social.
Spencer: What was the most memorable history class you took at Rice as an undergraduate? What made is so memorable?
Joel: Dr. Shimizu’s history of sports class was the most memorable. I loved how her class made me think about the politics that are inherent in every human activity. It taught me that everything is political and that has been a strong asset which has helped my teaching in Oakland. I had always thought of myself as an underachieving student in high school, as well as college, and Dr. Shimizu was one of the first teachers I ever had that showed me that my work was amazing when I worked hard, and that really motivated me to strive for academic excellence. It also showed me that as a teacher, I can support my students by explicitly telling them that I believe in them and that I am proud of them.