Elana Cole-Ragsdale
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away." Elana Cole-Ragsdale cherishes this anonymous quote. Her life’s story demonstrates its truth. As a member of an elite military family, Ms. Ragsdale was born in the United States but learned quickly what it means to be a global citizen. It means, for her, being rendered breathless by the beauty and richness of the places she visits and people she meets.
After her travels and education in places like Germany, France, Italy, and the Czech Republic, Ms. Ragsdale’s family retired in the state of Missouri. It was herethat she had an epiphany: she was determined to devote her energy to transform the lives of others in a positive direction. It did not take her long before she realized that the education of children in America required her knowledge, skill, and extensive experience.
Ms. Ragsdale’s aspirations were a reality four years later. At the age of twenty-three, she received her Bachelor of Science degrees in both English and History.She also began working as a teacher at one of the toughest schools here in Memphis, Tennessee.
Her gentle yet audacious teaching methods completely took her students, parents, and administrators by surprise. She understood the timeless quote of Theodore Roosevelt, “walk softly but carry a big stick.” In Ms. Ragsdale's case, the stick has always been having a keen insight into what motivates people. Her secret is simple: She takes time to silently and carefully listen, intently observe, and powerfully connect with her students and parents.
These soft skills and considerable talents led Ms. Ragsdale to the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (MASE), a school also founded by the founder of the New Consortium of Law and Business (the Consortium). At MASE, Ms. Ragsdale worked with a group of approximately 100 students from their ninth-grade year through their twelfth-grade year, then watching them graduate on May 21, 2010. She taught Etymology, African-American Literature, Collegiate Processes, and Advanced Placement (A.P.) Literature and Composition.
Ms. Ragsdale joins the New Consortium of Law and Business this summer as our school’s very first Master Teacher or Master Learner, a name our organization uses to refer to the fact that our teachers embody the concept of life-long learning. As a Master Learner, she is a national prototype for learning, instruction, and discipline. She aims to gain certification in all four major subject areas (Mathematics, Science, English, and Social Studies) so that she will model true competency as an instructor and as a learner. The goal is to show that teachers should be SMART, especially if they hope to mentor their students to take on this academic mantra.
She is the new version of educators who understands how to enhance today’s new style of learners.