For Alyssa Jurczak, the road to becoming a National Heritage Academies® (NHA®) Excellence in Teaching winner wasn't a straight line, but it was exactly the path she was meant to take.
Alyssa originally graduated with a degree in health sciences, intending to pursue a career in the medical field. However, while working at a health clinic inside a school, she realized her heart belonged to people and the complicated, rewarding dynamics of a school building rather than a clinical office.
After a friend suggested she try teaching, she discovered how easy NHA made it to enter the profession through the alternative certification path. What started as a casual conversation in June of that year, became a career in August when she stepped into her first classroom at Detroit Merit Academy. Now seven years into her journey, Alyssa has become a cornerstone of her school community, teaching middle school science and proving that with the right support, anyone can flourish.
A Win She Didn’t See Coming
The announcement of Alyssa’s award was a true community celebration that left her in complete shock. After finding out she was a finalist, Alyssa was already deeply honored, but she never expected to take home the top prize. To surprise her, the school organized a massive celebration where middle school students lined the entire hallway.
"I ended up coming up the stairs and the hallway was lined with the kids, and they had streamers and little noise makers they made," Alyssa recalled. "Then my family was at the end holding a banner and I was shocked".
The recognition was a perfect addition to the week, as she had just graduated with her master’s degree from Grand Valley State University only days prior to the reveal.
Teaching with Heart
In the classroom, Alyssa is a firm believer that teaching science is about more than just data; it is about building the whole child. She credits the Moral Focus™ curriculum as the foundation of her classroom culture, ensuring she carves out time for it every single week. By centering her management on virtues like respect, she finds that she can hold students to higher standards because the terminology is already part of their shared language.
“Whenever I hold them to that respect, it's not a new term and it's not a new expectation because we've spent a whole month discussing it. It's no longer a you versus me situation. It's, hey, let's fix this,” Alyssa thoughtfully explained.
Finding Her Stride
Over her seven-year tenure, Alyssa has seen her teaching style evolve through the challenges of the pandemic. She describes a pendulum swing in her approach, moving from a relaxed style as a young teacher to a very structured, rule-heavy environment immediately following the pandemic.
Today, she has found her stride in the middle ground, balancing high academic expectations with deep empathy. She has learned the importance of noticing the students who aren't necessarily loud or disruptive but still need a champion.
"The student who sits quietly in the chair and never causes a disruption is great," she noted, "but oftentimes they're the one who may not say hi to somebody throughout the day. So, making sure to stop and check in on them does make a difference".
Community Minded
Alyssa’s connection to Detroit Merit Academy goes beyond the classroom walls, as she lives only ten minutes from the school and has become an integral part of the local community. She finds joy in the small moments of recognition outside of school hours, whether it's running into students at the grocery store or seeing former pupils transition into adulthood.
She recently visited a new restaurant and was greeted by a former student from three years ago who was bringing out her food. Seeing her students apply the persevering and adapting skills she taught them in the real world is what keeps her motivated through the long, tiring days.
Advice for New Teachers
Reflecting on her growth, Alyssa credits much of her success to the Dean model and the supportive tribe she has found in her middle school team. She encourages new teachers to embrace the coaching culture at NHA rather than fearing it.
"I would definitely suggest to seek and receive feedback," she advised. "In the end, everybody's here to help you get better".
She also reminds her peers that it is ok to care for yourself too. As she puts it, "Don't forget that you're human too. Make sure that you honor those areas of yourself so that way you can continue doing the great work that teaching is".
Congratulations Alyssa on your win! Thank you for all you do for the students at Detroit Merit!
About Detroit Merit Charter Academy
Detroit Merit Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Detroit, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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