--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Teaching in Providence and Oakland, I…" description: "\"Teaching in Providence and Oakland, I realized that the first thing is that it wasn't good enough to come in and assume that I had what my students nee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c9/pedro-noguera-30207_allies_teaching-in-providence-and-oakland-i-rea_1909100.jpg" --- # Teaching in Providence and Oakland, I realized that the… ![“Teaching in Providence and Oakland, I realized that the first thing is that it wasn't good enough to come in and assume that I had what my students needed in terms of knowledge and skills. I also had to show them that I was their ally. I had to show them that I was concerned about them, wanted to…” quote by Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c9/pedro-noguera-30207_allies_teaching-in-providence-and-oakland-i-rea_1909100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c9/pedro-noguera-30207_allies_teaching-in-providence-and-oakland-i-rea_1909100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c9/pedro-noguera-30207_allies_teaching-in-providence-and-oakland-i-rea_1909100.jpg) > “Teaching in Providence and Oakland, I realized that the first thing is that it wasn't good enough to come in and assume that I had what my students needed in terms of knowledge and skills. I also had to show them that I was their ally. I had to show them that I was concerned about them, wanted to relate to them, and that I was fundamentally on their side.” [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective teaching requires humility, empathy, and partnership with students, not assuming expertise. **In simple terms:** Teachers must be allies, not just experts. Key Takeaway Build trust and listen. Themes education empathy leadership Mood thoughtful inspirational Type educational reflective When to use this quote - classroom management - school reform - mentor training - community outreach - policy making Key Concepts student‑centered pedagogy cultural competence relationship building Questions to Reflect On - How do you demonstrate allyship daily? - What barriers prevent you from fully listening? A Different Perspective Power dynamics can hinder genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Oakland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oakland/) [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [Living in Ohio, I grew up an Oakland Raiders fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/living-in-ohio-i-grew-up-an-oakland-raiders-fan/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [I am so proud to be a daughter of Oakland, California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/i-am-so-proud-to-be-a-daughter-of-oakland-california/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [Coming from Oakland, Calif., I never thought I'd be a Hall of Famer. I wasn't thinking about basketball like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/coming-from-oakland-calif-i-never-thought-i-d-be-a-hall-of-famer-i/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I remember facing him on opening day in 1987. It was Oakland at the Minnesota Twins, the first time I got him out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-young/i-remember-facing-him-on-opening-day-in-1987-it-was-oakland-at-the/) Curt Young > [My dream was to play football for the Oakland Raiders. But my mother thought I would get hurt playing football, so she chose baseball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/my-dream-was-to-play-football-for-the-oakland-raiders-but-my-mother/) [Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/) > [“The sudden death of oak trees in where I live in Oakland is like a clear cry naturally emerging from nature, just as cries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zenju-earthlyn-manuel/the-sudden-death-of-oak-trees-in-where-i-live-in-oakland-is-like-a/) [Zenju Earthlyn Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zenju-earthlyn-manuel/) > [I wasn't really happy in Oakland or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-wasn-t-really-happy-in-oakland-or-anything-like-that/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [Randy Moss is not a leader. He doesn't deserve to be the captain of the Oakland Raiders. He's the one who said he wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boomer-esiason/randy-moss-is-not-a-leader-he-doesn-t-deserve-to-be-the-captain-of/) [Boomer Esiason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boomer-esiason/) > [Oh, my other goal was that I wanted to talk about this area and this time in history. I wanted to talk about growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-kasher/oh-my-other-goal-was-that-i-wanted-to-talk-about-this-area-and-this/) [Moshe Kasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-kasher/) > [I think one game we played the Oakland Raiders and Jack Tatum and I had an accident on the one-yard line. The only thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-think-one-game-we-played-the-oakland-raiders-and-jack-tatum-and-i/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [Oakland city represent, address me as your majesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kreayshawn/oakland-city-represent-address-me-as-your-majesty/) [Kreayshawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kreayshawn/) > [The Raiders moved from Oakland to Los Angeles, didn't like it, didn't get along. Whatever it was, moved back to Oakland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regis-philbin/the-raiders-moved-from-oakland-to-los-angeles-didn-t-like-it-didn-t/) [Regis Philbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regis-philbin/) > [I love San Francisco so much. I call it the Emerald City and have been coming here since 1992. I have a few old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/i-love-san-francisco-so-much-i-call-it-the-emerald-city-and-have-been/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) > [As I and the rest of my Pittsburgh Steelers teammates prepared that week in late December 1974, we knew one thing: The road to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-greene/as-i-and-the-rest-of-my-pittsburgh-steelers-teammates-prepared-that/) [Joe Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-greene/) > [Fantasy sports went a long way toward developing the sabermetrics formulas used not only by oddsmakers but general managers in hiring players. So the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/fantasy-sports-went-a-long-way-toward-developing-the-sabermetrics/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) ## More by Pedro Noguera > [New York rushed to get students into early childhood programs, but the research is clear that it has to be high quality. What we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/new-york-rushed-to-get-students-into-early-childhood-programs-but-the/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [ The origins of these \[schooling\] federal policies were tied to President Johnson's war on poverty. Supplemental funds were sent to school districts serving poor… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/the-origins-of-these-schooling-federal-policies-were-tied-to/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [That's at the core of equity: understanding who your kids are and how to meet their needs. You are still focused on outcomes, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/that-s-at-the-core-of-equity-understanding-who-your-kids-are-and-how/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [Most departments of education are set up largely to regulate schools and hold them in compliance. They don't really help schools. When a school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/most-departments-of-education-are-set-up-largely-to-regulate-schools/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [We know that African American students tend to be relational learners. It's about the relationships between a teacher and student. Students respond well to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/we-know-that-african-american-students-tend-to-be-relational-learners/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [It’s hard to think of another field in which experience is considered a liability and those who know the least about the nuts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/it-s-hard-to-think-of-another-field-in-which-experience-is-considered/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [You don't see a positive culture, stability among teachers, or leadership. We don't focus enough in our policies on creating conditions to educating kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/you-don-t-see-a-positive-culture-stability-among-teachers-or/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [Middle-class kids get to play, develop their thinking ability. Poor kids are much more likely to get regimentation under the guise of socialization. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/middle-class-kids-get-to-play-develop-their-thinking-ability-poor/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [“There must be a complete interrogation of the thinking that has allowed such practices to operate without challenge...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/there-must-be-a-complete-interrogation-of-the-thinking-that-has/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [It's about having a comprehensive vision that includes things like social supports while providing a high-quality education. It seems obvious, but when you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/it-s-about-having-a-comprehensive-vision-that-includes-things-like/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [ It's been a struggling school for many, many years, and \[that's\] not surprising since it's serving some of the most disadvantaged kids in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/it-s-been-a-struggling-school-for-many-many-years-and-that-s-not/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [If students don't think that you care and can relate, especially as they get older, they tune you out. I didn't get it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/if-students-don-t-think-that-you-care-and-can-relate-especially-as/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [We need to create schools that are organized to meet the needs of the kids they serve instead of what we've been doing. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/we-need-to-create-schools-that-are-organized-to-meet-the-needs-of-the/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [California, because of their Equity Funding Formula, moves a step in that direction by sending more resources to communities and students that face greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/california-because-of-their-equity-funding-formula-moves-a-step-in/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) > [Boys are still led to believe that power is associated with domination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-noguera/boys-are-still-led-to-believe-that-power-is-associated-with-domination/) [Pedro Noguera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) [Explore all 17 Pedro Noguera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-noguera/) ## More Allies quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) Joseph Joffre > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What would your life be like if your body were your friend and ally?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/what-would-your-life-be-like-if-your-body-were-your-friend-and-ally/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [“Bacteria and viruses were the most effective allies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/bacteria-and-viruses-were-the-most-effective-allies/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [There is an irreplaceable ally. It's called the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/there-is-an-irreplaceable-ally-it-s-called-the-united-states-of/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [It would have been easier to fight alone with inadequate forces than to have to accept...responsibility for our ally's lack of fighting qualities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kesselring/it-would-have-been-easier-to-fight-alone-with-inadequate-forces-than/) [Albert Kesselring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kesselring/) > [It isn't until you begin to fight in your own cause that you become really committed to winning and become a genuine ally of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/it-isn-t-until-you-begin-to-fight-in-your-own-cause-that-you-become/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul \[of Tarsus\], Teresa of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheists-who-write-off-religion-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [My own take on the word "transgender" is that it's an umbrella term for anyone who breaks any rules, laws, guidelines or protocol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/my-own-take-on-the-word-transgender-is-that-it-s-an-umbrella-term-for/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) [Browse all 1,053 Allies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Teaching in Providence and Oakland, I realized that the first thing is that it wasn't good enough to come in and assume that I had what my students needed in terms of knowledge and skills. I also had to show them that I was their ally. 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