Aaron Rhock’s path to Mastery was inspired by the community in which he grew up– Camden, New Jersey. After earning his bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in English, Aaron had planned to go law school. However, he wasn’t sure if that was what he truly wanted. He knew he wanted to make a difference in his community, so he decided to pursue his master’s. It was then that Aaron learned about Mastery’s Relay Teaching Residency. He was eventually placed at Mastery’s McGraw Elementary as a Literacy Support Teacher. Since 2016, Aaron has worked as a first, third, and fourth grade teacher. He has also served as a mentor for Mastery’s Relay program, teacher coach, and curriculum specialist. Learn more about Aaron’s journey at Mastery.

 

What do you love most about your job at Mastery?

I love the people that I work with, and how teamwork is at the center of everything we do. At Mastery, teamwork and collaboration comes naturally. You get to know your colleagues on a personal level and really create long-lasting and meaningful relationships.

 

What would you tell a prospective employee at Mastery about the journey to become a leader at Mastery?

Here, the journey to leadership is achievable if you put in the work. You get out what you put in. Although everything doesn’t happen overnight—working hard goes a long way and school leaders recognize strong effort.

 

What impact do you make as a leader at Mastery?

In my role, I believe I have a positive impact on the students and teachers. For teachers, it’s a continuous learning process, where I’m coaching them but I’m also learning in the process. As a school leader, I work with teachers to provide support, and in doing so, I learn how to become a better advocate, leader, and partner. For students, I come from the same community they are from – Camden. As an African-American male, I understand how my presence in the school is important. I’m inspired to be a role model for many of our students.