Faculty Spotlight- Jacob Nanfito
What do you teach at EvCC?
I teach pre-college writing and reading for the Transitional Studies department. I am also a High School Completion/HS+ advisor.
Tell us a little about your professional background.
Teaching is my 2nd career. Prior to going back to college in my late 20s, I spent about 10 years working customer service jobs, primarily in the printing and shipping industry. I discovered my love for teaching while I was a student at EvCC. On a whim, I volunteered as an ELA tutor with the Volunteer Literacy Program. From 2010 - 2016 I regularly worked with EvCC ELA/TS students doing 1:1 tutoring, small group tutoring, Literature Circles, assisting and observing teachers in ELA courses, etc. The EvCC staff and faculty I encountered recognized my passion and mentored me towards starting a career in ELA/ABE. I then began pursuing my Master’s Degree in Education/Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TSOL) which I earned in 2016. My aspiration from the very beginning was to become tenured faculty at EvCC.
To get started, I taught English SAT/ACT prep classes and supplemental English Language Arts courses for middle school and high school students in the Bellevue School District “gifted” program for 3 years at a center called Eastside Education. I also did some part-time ESL teaching for Hopelink. In 2016, I began working at the South Everett Goodwill Job Training and Education Center as an instructor. I taught classes in ESL, pre-college writing, GED prep, and various job training/skills development courses. I was also Goodwill’s HS+ lead for Snohomish County, and I connected students to EvCC’s HS+ program and then provided additional college navigation/study skills mentoring for them.
During my time with Goodwill, I taught three ESL classes for them on Casino Road as part of the Casino Road Adult Education Academy collaborative. This is a unique collaborative made up of various local nonprofits and organizations working to serve folks living in the Casino Road/S. Everett area. This program was in its infancy when I joined, so I had the privilege of contributing to the development of the collaborative and representing Goodwill there as it grew beyond the Academy into a larger organization called Connect Casino Road. About a year into my time there, EvCC joined the collaborative. Although I was not EvCC faculty, many of my colleagues were EvCC faculty and staff which provided me with an excellent opportunity to get to know, and collaborate with, EvCC folks of all levels, from instructors to VPs. This was a great honor and learning opportunity for me that also further connected me to the college. I always felt like a welcomed member of the EvCC family, even though I was more like a distant cousin. As luck would have it, I am still teaching at Casino Road Academy now as an EvCC instructor!
Why did you choose EvCC?
EvCC has been a major part of my life since I decided to return to school in 2008. At the time, I was in my late 20s and just starting my family. I realized I needed to build a career for myself and my family, and that the low paying jobs I’d had wouldn’t cut it. I came to the college pretty directionless, and I started out taking pre-college writing and math classes (this was prior to Transitional Studies - but essentially the same courses) at night and online. An instructor recommended that I join the VLP, and the staff there rallied around me and helped me plot a path forward. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree at WSU online via EvCC’s University Center. EvCC instructors encouraged me to pursue a Master’s Degree and were always there to provide me with support and advice, even several years after finishing my work as an EvCC student. As a first gen college student, when I first stepped on campus vaguely pursuing an AA degree, I would have never imagined this path for myself. I did not realize these possibilities existed.
I will always be grateful to those folks at EvCC for helping me to discover my true aspirations and potential, and I realized then I wanted to pay this forward to others and become a part of this legacy myself. Also, having lived the experience of a first-gen college student who is taking classes full-time, working part time, and being a stay-at-home dad, I knew I could help students walking a similar path, and that my struggles and experiences could be useful for others. I also grew up in Marysville and have lived in Everett for the last 20+ years, so this is my community.
On a more professional level, I have always been inspired by EvCC’s commitment to innovation, equity, and compassionate and student responsive teaching. It is my goal to be the best teacher and advisor I can possibly be …. One of the best in the region or the country … and I knew that coming to EvCC and working alongside others with a similar mindset would sharpen me up and lift me to those next levels. While at Goodwill, I had the privilege of being invited into a lot of EvCC’s training and events, as both a volunteer and a community partner, and it was through EvCC that I first encountered some frameworks that have become cornerstones of my service to others …. The 5 Dimensions of Equity, the 4 Connections, Mentoring practices, etc. I just felt certain that I needed to come to EvCC to be able to fully contribute to moving this important work forward. I saw that EvCC is an institution that would support me in this type of work, and I met EvCC staff and faculty who are so enthusiastic and determined about serving our students in the best ways possible.
How has the pandemic affected you? How are you doing?
Like everyone else, I’m stressed and tired. I am learning a lot about feeling vulnerable and dealing with uncertainty. My kids are in Elementary and Middle School, so my wife and I are working hard to help them with remote learning. I miss coming to campus and seeing everyone, I miss being with students in class, and I miss my office! But, the shift to online teaching has definitely taught me some new skills, and I think it will improve my classes. I’ve learned some new approaches that will remain useful after we return to face-to-face classes. I’ve also witnessed even further how resilient, determined, and courageous our students are. They are an inspiration to me. Overall, I’m doing very well. I’m grateful to everyone at EvCC for putting in so much hard work to support students, staff, and faculty. I’m also grateful to my wife and kids for putting up with me being constantly attached to my laptop at our kitchen table.
How have you adapted your curriculum and teaching methods to support students who are learning from home?
Well, it’s mostly smaller, logistical elements that have needed adjustment. I’ve had to adjust some activities, assessments, and assignments. A lot of things you can do in class simply don’t work online. But these are minor changes. Overall, this situation has reinforced my approach to teaching and learning. It’s a time to focus on centering student needs, teach and serve with empathy and love, and be as accessible, equitable, and transparent as possible. These things have always been vital to great teaching, but this moment puts it into sharp perspective. I have put further focus on creating connection, building community, and humanizing online learning. I am prioritizing socioemotional learning and promoting self-care and self-reflection in my classes. To best support my students through this, I need to be as flexible, yet structured and supportive, as possible.
As tough and deeply sad as this whole situation is, it is also a transformative opportunity. As an instructor, it’s easy to get bogged down in logistics and details, but we have an opportunity here. EvCC can be at the forefront of helping our community through this, and a driving engine in our recovery after this ends. As instructors, we can create unique environments that are safe spaces of learning and healing. We can get to know our students and their needs in a way we never could previously. We can not only help students to work towards their aspirations, but to reflect on who they are, who they’ve been, and who they want to be. Teaching is activism, teaching is care. We can help empower our students to engage in new ways, and to be at the front of reshaping and rebuilding our society. This is an unforgettable time, and we get to be a part of creating positive memories for our students. I want to be a part of re-imaging the dream of what higher education can be. This is what keeps me motivated. I hope to share this feeling with my students and colleagues.
The biggest change to my teaching methods has been to loosen control and let go of some of my needs and expectations as a teacher. I am walking alongside my students through unexplored terrain.
What advice do you have for students who are taking online or livestream classes for the first time?
Digital learning is a lot of work, especially if it’s new to you. Just like with face-to-face classes, you get out of it what you put in. Practice with the technology, and stay engaged and disciplined with class work.
My biggest point of advice is to stay connected! Reach out to your instructors, EvCC staff, and classmates. Ask for help if you need it! Ask a lot of questions. Embrace making mistakes. Take advantage of EvCC’s amazing tutoring and support resources. It’s so sad for instructors when students disappear on us! Let us know when you’re struggling. We’re here to serve you -- we work for you. Also, think about what’s going on in your life, and don’t try to overdo things or take on too much.
What do you like to do for fun?
I absolutely love to listen to music. It’s healing for me. I also love to read. I love to play card and board games with my family. I’ve also been getting into some video games during my time at home. Thanks to the help of my kids, I’m becoming pretty awesome at Fortnite. I’m a bit of a nerd, so I like to unwind at night by watching some old Star Trek or Doctor Who. I can’t wait to get back to camping and travelling with my family.
What is your favorite snack?
Chips and Salsa are unbeatable. Add some sour cream and avocados, and you have the perfect snack. Any of my students can tell you that I’m slightly obsessed with coffee. I’ll take an iced mocha anytime.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am so grateful to be a part of Everett Community College. It was my dream for many years to work here, and with a lot of help, I realized that goal. I plan to finish my career here, and I hope to make my mark and leave a positive legacy behind. Thank you to everyone in the EvCC community! I won’t let you down. Together we can do incredible things.