As a secondary English Language Arts Curriculum coach, Tamara Wells oversees the educational programming of six middle schools and three high schools in the Hazelwood School District. Her position focuses heavily on classroom observations and data-driven research in order to create curriculum that is suitable, yet challenging, for students. Wells also offers professional development opportunities and classroom counseling for instructors.
After noticing students’ desire to talk through subjects they were encountering inside and outside of the classroom, Wells developed the CHAT (Children Having Academic Talks about languages, identity, dialect and culture) Academy. It is an intentional space created for African-American students to organically use, practice and reflect on how they negotiate ideologies and identity in various settings. CHAT students are taught to question and challenge difficult subjects in order to foster greater understanding of themselves and the world around them.
“If you were to visit her classroom, you would see her students facilitating learning, because she has empowered even the shyest student to tap into their innermost creative strengths and transform into a confident teen positioned to speak out on a wide range of topics that surpasses just traditional classroom objectives,” said her husband and University City educator/coach Jason Wells.
Using literature and a focus on current events, Wells empowers African-American students to take an active role in their own learning.
“We are training students to become social justice advocates who are in tune with modern political and social issues. The teens take the lead and initiate programming and conversations about subjects they believe need to be addressed,” said Wells.
The real success of the CHAT Academy program can be attributed to the relevance it holds in students’ day-to-day lives. Wells aims to tackle issues that students bring to her and she has held workshops on a wide variety of subjects, such as emotional healing to the Jason Stockley verdict that sparked protests all over St. Louis in 2017. By focusing on what her students desire to learn, the CHAT Academy keeps students engaged and invested in the world around them.
“Through CHAT, students are really stretching their thinking and also the thinking of adults around them,” said Wells. “They have become advocates for their own learning. I always encourage my students to facilitate and create their own knowledge, not just consume it from others.”
Beyond the classroom, Wells has a personal interest in social justice advocacy and promoting diversity. She serves as a board member for Educators for Social Justice, an organization dedicated “to developing and supporting socially just, equitable, and sustainable practices in schools and communities.” Their work in the St. Louis community seeks to “connect educators across the lifespan and build networks that mobilize resources to promote progressive change.”
Last year, Wells was nominated for the 2017 Courageous Educator Award.
Wells also works at the University of Missouri-St. Louis as an adjunct instructor, teaching night courses for future teachers.
Wells earned a bachelor’s of science from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and a master’s in Education Administration from Lindenwood University. She received her doctorate in Educational Studies in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Wells’ personal passion for learning has inspired and supported her throughout her 18-year career in education. Additionally, as a resident of the community she works in, she is able to foster deeper, more meaningful relationships with her pupils. Wells believes these connections allow her to better understand the needs of her students and ultimately lead to higher levels of success.
