Seven Doors In: One Teacher's Mission Within Prison Walls

by Beth Rondeau

Overview

With a passion for education and years of experience teaching students of all ages, Beth Rondeau built a prestigious career in teaching. Even she, however, could hardly have imagined the challenges she’d face as a teacher in an unconventional classroom: maximum-security prison.

Seven Doors In details Beth’s journey over three years of teaching men considered to be among the most dangerous offenders in the prison system. Explore what life is like in prison, and meet the memorable students who awaited her instruction every day behind a total of seven locked doors. Share in their struggles and their accomplishments—in academics as well as in life—and witness how she helped them improve not only their test scores but also their self-worth, compassion, behavior, and belief in their own ability to change for the better. Beth has seen with her own eyes how education can transform the lives of offenders, and her view of the United States justice system has been transformed forever in turn. Now let her open your eyes to the lessons she learned seven doors in.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612545141
Publisher:	Brown Books Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/08/2021
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	796,169
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

As the youngest of five children growing up in the north of Michigan, Beth Rondeau grew up in an environment where putting hard work and education first was expected. She earned her bachelor’s in mathematics from Michigan Technological University and later went on to earn her master’s in supervision and instruction from Northern Michigan University.
Over the course of her career, Beth has taught math and science at schools with graduating classes ranging from 14 to 180 students. For three years, she taught inmates in a maximum-security prison, and in 2017, the state selected her as Corrections Teacher of the Year.
Beth is an expert in her field. In 2016, she presented mathematics to educators at the WIOA Partners Conference. She did the same at the National Corrections Education Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2017. During her work in correctional facilities, Beth certified as a facilitator for the “Thinking for Change” program offered to offenders and staff. In 2018, while working in Iowa, Beth received the Sanford Teaching Award, given to one inspirational teacher in each state. Education continues to be her passion and inspiration, particularly for those who do not have equal access to it in our society, such as adults and offenders within our criminal justice system. She is currently consulting with a film producer who is making a film about her prison teaching experience.

Table of Contents

Note x

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

1 The Long Walk to Door Seven 5

2 Passing the Test 19

3 Bruised Ribs 29

4 Disciplinary Reports and Progress Reports 45

5 The New and Improved Prison School 75

6 Education for All 111

7 Graduation 139

8 A Voice for Those Who Can't Speak 151

About the Author 164