Pearl Jonas
High School World History teacher in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Former City Year Greater Philadelphia Senior Corp Member, 2007-2008; 2008-2009
Written by: Alessandra Mercedes Hankinson
My first impression of City Year was Pearl Jonas. When I joined the program, I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into. I and a few teammates assumed this is business and little fun. Those opinions of the program were transformed by the smile and humble attitude Pearl brought to work with her every day. She embodied the principle characteristics of being a corps member, and she later became our prototype for what an ethical leader should look like in the world today.
Pearl Jonas embodies the change people wish to see in the world.
Her work transcends humanitarianism, kindness and empathy, extending to everyone whom she interacts with around her. Her influence on me and my team showed us a way for people to contribute to something extraordinary.
In her role as a service leader, she helped others to identify positive qualities in themselves and reach their full potential, which inevitably resulted in better team members. Instead of using the word “good” all the time, I constantly would think of more descriptive adjectives that resonated with her role as a service leader. Ambitious and talented are words that come to mind when people described her.
Pearl joined City Year following her college education at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and a Masters Degree in secondary social studies education. Through her friendship with Chase Trimmer, a current Program Manager for City Year Greater Philadelphia, Pearl was introduced to AmeriCorps service with City Year.
During that time, Pearl had just returned to Philadelphia after living and working in Nicaragua. She had uncertainty about whether she could financially afford to do a year of service, but had the desire to work with students in Philadelphia, as she is a Philadelphia native. Pearl also wanted to be involved with something that would encourage young people to volunteer.
“After reading about the different service opportunities, I instantly felt a connection with the Heroes programs. Luckily, I was placed on the Young Heroes dream team and got to do what I hoped I could,” says Pearl.
She led her corps year as the senior corps member on her team organizing and creating the Young Heroes program for that year. As part of an eight member team, together they coordinated and facilitated academic and service-based curriculum to over 150 middle school students.
Clayton Lloyd, a fellow corps member with Pearl at City Year, remembers Pearl’s daily joy and watching her young hero students grow into community leaders.
“She always helped heroes to understand the world around them,” says Clayton. “She helped them to develop questions about how their world is shaped, and how they can be agents for change. She always brought out the best in the heroes.”
The Young Heroes Program is an experience where children not only learn from their leaders but also where the leaders learn from the students. Being open to this mutual exchange catapults the City Year corps members into leaders and role models for the youth who are looking up to them. Indeed the heroes brought out the best in Pearl. They helped cultivate the ethical leader she has become today and there is no doubt, Pearl is a leader for life.
Pearl served two years at City Year working with the Young Heroes Program. Because of her commitment and success with the Young Heroes Program, she helped lay the ground work for the expansion of the program throughout other areas of Philadelphia. Specifically during Pearl’s second year, she piloted the expansion of the program into Northeast Philadelphia, where she is from.
From then on, Pearl realized her dedication to service; she continued to work with students by enrolling in a teacher education program. Her choice to teach is evermore an example of someone who pursues leadership and self-discovery as a part of her life after City Year.
“City Year confirmed for me that I wanted to work with students and to improve our educational systems,” says Pearl. “I witnessed middle and high school students dedicate themselves to making a difference. I can’t turn my back on that untapped potential. So after City Year, I enrolled in a teacher education program and continue to work with students. I constantly reflect on how I can teach with a social justice perspective. It is not easy but definitely worth it.”
Today Pearl works as a high school world history teacher in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
“The school I work for in Ecuador serves two student populations. It runs a private school for students that can pay the tuition which helps to support a scholarship school for students from low-income families. The belief is that through a great education young people have opportunities to improve their quality of life and change the world,” says Pearl.
The most challenging part of Pearl’s job has to do with the challenges of being a first-year teacher. “I’m trying to figure out who I am as a teacher and what my students need in order to learn while balancing my day-to-day responsibilities.”
Her greatest joy is building community with her colleagues, who have given her a warm welcome to the school and country there.
When asked about what life advice Pearl would like to share with others, she says:
“Now that I’m a few years older, I realize how important the small things in life are. Small acts matter with family, friends and strangers. The best way to serve others, and the world, is to improve yourself. Improving yourself involves the small acts. But don’t get overwhelmed, create small achievable goals to help you reach big picture dreams and goals. Don’t forget to celebrate.”
We like to celebrate this month with our hats off to Pearl! As she continues to reach her big dreams and inspire others to follow their own, we send her congratulations, gratitude and appreciate from a city thousands of miles away from her now, yet from a place still very close to her heart.
To nominate an amazing alumni that you know, please email Renee Di Pietro at cygpalumni@gmail.com
Alumni Highlight Quick Box: Pearl Jonas
Q: Did you fill your boots?
Q: Did you fill your boots?
A: Yes, my sister Barbara served in City Year. We served together in the ’08-’09 corps.
Q: What skills or qualities do you believe are your strengths?
Being reflective, patient, and organized.
Q: What five things make you unique?
A: 1) I’ve lived in four countries in the past 6 years (Spain, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and, of course, USA)
2) I have never had the flu (knock on wood).
3) I share a last name with a band that has become a teen sensation. I currently have a small fan club made up of 8th grade students who are convinced that I’m related to this band.
4) I have an Ecuadorian friend who pronounces my name as “Perm”.
5) I can easily take hundreds of pictures in one day.
Q: What has been your proudest moment in life?
A: I am proud of all the times I put myself in challenging situations outside of comfort zone, including moving to Nicaragua and Ecuador and becoming a teacher.
Q: What personal factors do you consider most important in evaluating yourself or your success?
A: I almost want to say that the less sleep I get in order to accomplish the task, the better. But that is not the true. The idea is that I know when I give everything I have to something and I know when I don’t. I feel the best about something when I give it 110%, as they say. I also consider whether or not I have stayed true to what I believe is right.
Q: What is the best gift you have received?
A: This is a difficult question! In a figurative sense it would be my education. My mom worked hard to pay for tuition. In a literal sense it would be a pair of running shoes.
Q: What is your favorite book or movie? Why?
A: The Alchemist is one of my favorite books. I read it during my first City Year with a group of other corps members. Some of its themes are of destiny and following your heart. It was just what I needed when I read it.
Q: What was your favorite City Year Founding Story? Why?
A: “Be the change” is my favorite Founding Story. It has helped give me perspective on my actions before, during and after City Year.
Q: What goals do you have for later in life?
A: I want to continue teaching and work hard to be the best I can be for our students. I want to be involved in educational reform. I also have a dream of helping to start a school and/or a community focused coffee shop in Philadelphia. (I also want to continue to be involved with City Year! After being away for a year I have gained an even deeper appreciation for my experience.)
Q: How many City Year sites do you predict will be open by 2020?
A: I wish there could be one in every major city in the United States. If there is at least one new site every year we could have between 30 and 35 by 2020. That sounds amazing!
Q: Where would you like to see one?
I would like to see one in New Jersey. Newark has been headlining for their educational initiatives recently. Also, having City Year in Philadelphia and Camden could be a powerhouse for change!
