Coach profile: Eric Waldstein, Noyes Education Campus

Eric Waldstein,

Writing coach, Noyes Education Campus

How long have you been with DC SCORES?

This is my first season, I have been with DC SCORES for 8 months.

What’s your other job within or outside the school?

I am the literacy specialist at Noyes Education Campus.

How did you get into education or start working with youth?

I entered the profession by way of Teach For America. I taught first and second grade before I started working as a literacy specialist.

Why did you choose to work for DC SCORES, what attracted you to the program?

I’ve played soccer my whole life and love the game. I am also a big fan of poetry as an art form and outlet. I think both activities have a lot to offer anyone who invests some time in them and DC SCORES seemed like a great fit for me.

Now that you’ve been doing it for a while, what do you enjoy most about it?

I enjoy watching the students progress. They started the year off knowing little or nothing about both soccer and poetry. Now they are excited about both and are working hard to build the foundational concepts.

Why is DC SCORES important to the school and the students it serves?

DC SCORES gives the students an additional thing to rally behind and get excited about. It has definitely energized the after-school culture for the students who participate in it.

Was there an experience you had growing up that pushed you into education or toward doing a program like DC SCORES? Were you in a similar program?

Issues of social justice and human rights have always been a passion of mine. Education, in whatever form, is a productive means toward creating greater social justice. DC SCORES is doing a great job of offering additional education to these young people and I think it will truly be a difference-maker for some of them.

What’s your favorite DC SCORES event and why?

So far the Poetry Slam! has been my favorite DC SCORES event. It was pretty incredible to see students from all over the city get organized to produce and perform original poetry.

What’s your most memorable DC SCORES experience?

The fall Poetry Slam!.

Who is your favorite athlete?

Michael Jordan.

Who is your favorite singer or poet?

I like many, but one of my current favorites is Jimi Hendrix.

What is your favorite food?

Again, I have many, but one of my favorites is lobster.