WELCOME!

My name is Cortnie Belser. As a native of Northeast Baltimore, I credit growing up in the city of Baltimore as the pillar that has shaped my identity and career aspirations. As a Black Studies and Educational Studies special major at Swarthmore College, I utilized my experiences as a former youth organizer for my undergraduate thesis, which analyzed the sociopolitical development and life experiences of Black youth organizers in Baltimore today.

Prior to entering the classroom, I supported over 50 young people through workforce development programming in partnership with organizations to train and build community playgrounds across Baltimore. Today, as a Secondary ELA teacher, in the same district that taught me, I am both humbled and rigorously engaged in improving the quality education experiences of students across the city. As a Master of Science in Education candidate, this portfolio serves to showcase the work of me and my students as we work towards academic and action goals throughout the year.