Misty Copeland Speaks to Poughkeepsie Students

POUGHKEEPSIE – American Ballet Theater’s Misty Copeland graces the door to Jennifer Geer-Ennist’s fifth grade classroom at Morse Elementary School as part of the school’s Black History Month and Women’s History Month celebration.

She also appeared on a video screen in a personal greeting to the class after learning the door won the Door Decorating competition at the school.

Every year the school does something to celebrate Black History Month, but this year Geer-Ennist decided to incorporate more African American women into the mix for her fifth grade class. She taught the kids about Cathay Williams, a Buffalo Soldier; Harriet Tubman, who helped rescue slaves as part of the Underground Railroad; Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose novel, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” talks about the conditions slaves endured, and Copeland, who in 2015 became the first African American to become a principal dancer with the company.

“She was more modern and they gravitated toward what she did becoming an African American ballerina and the barriers she overcame,” Geer-Ennist said. “Many of them (students) are athletes and dancers so they could relate more to her.”

As part of the lesson, students watched videos, did EdPuzzle activities and read content on Newsela.

Students then wrote a short paragraph about what they learned about or from her, incorporating some of her inspirational words and how she inspires them. Those writings accompanied a drawing of Copeland on the door which students colored-in.

When Geer-Ennist learned their door won the contest she reached out to Copeland via social media and an email to her management company.

The management company responded, congratulating her on winning the contest and Geer-Ennist thought that was it.

The next day, at around 1 p.m., she was in a meeting when she received another email, this time with a 52-second video from Copeland herself.

“I was in a meeting and I flew out to go back to the classroom to share it,” she said. “They were shocked, their jaws were on the floor.”

In the video, Copeland expressed heartfelt thanks for being included in the celebration.
“Hi, Miss Jen and the fifth grade class. I wanted to say thank you for reaching out. It’s so inspiring when I hear that I am even a part of this incredible Black History Month and Women’s History Month and that young people are learning about me.”

Yamileth Hernandez said she is going to, “try harder if faced with a challenge,” based on what she saw Copeland achieve. “I was shocked, it’s not every day you get to meet someone very famous.”

Classmate Siraj Paulin was inspired by the fact that Copeland worked hard and had the world watching as all her colleagues were white. “I learned to never give up and follow my dreams.”

Paulin plays football and basketball and shared that the lessons he learned from Copeland’s persistence will help him. “When you get mad and think about giving up you just keep trying,” he said.

Copeland ended her video by telling the class to, “Keep up the hard work and I hope we get to meet one day.”