Staff Spotlight: Alexandra Doering inspires passion and purpose, two qualities that make students unstoppable

by Mary Jo David

In 2021, Alexandra (“Alex”) Doering had some pretty big shoes to fill when she began teaching first English 11, and then AP Language and Composition, in Stockbridge following the departure of veteran teacher Elizabeth Cyr.

But Stockbridge wasn’t Doering’s first rodeo; she had previously taught middle school in Chelsea and Adrian and high school in Chelsea and Manchester. In addition to the experience she brought with her, Doering was glad for the opportunity to mentor under Cyr for several weeks when first arriving in Stockbridge.

Besides observing Cyr in the classroom, Doering recalls, “the time with Cyr allowed me to learn the ‘ins and outs’ of advising a school newspaper that is small, but mighty.”

Journalism is only one of the classes she teaches, but along with that comes the responsibility of being the faculty advisor for “Uncaged,” the school newspaper.

“Being an advisor is challenging in ways that teaching is not. One of the biggest challenges is holding students to a standard that is expected of an adult in a workplace.”

She cites examples like double-checking story facts, quoting people exactly, capturing eye-catching photos and producing unique page designs that adhere to Michigan Interscholastic Press Association’s strict standards. All this while students learn that deadlines in the newspaper world are non-negotiable and communications requires timeliness.

“These tasks sound daunting for teenagers,” Doering said, “But each year, every student always rises to the occasion and throughout the year, each staff member settles into his/her/their place to become an integral part of the team.”

Though journalism at Stockbridge usually has fewer than twenty students, the district’s school paper is still able to compete with much larger school districts, some with staffs of 50 or more.

“Last year, the students were awarded a gold medal from MIPA and were just 12 points shy of a Spartan—the most prestigious award in the state,” Doering said.

That same level of commitment and maturity is something Doering experienced in her own high school years, where she played volleyball and softball; was a member of National Honor Society, Key Club, and Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA); wrote for the school newspaper; and was vice president of her class.

But her love for reading and writing began even earlier—when she had the opportunity to write a play for drama class in middle school. Students voted on the plays they liked best, and hers was one selected to perform for an audience.

“I felt excited to see my work come to life. When that class ended, it left me dreaming about a career in Hollywood, since I loved writing and starring in my own play … I was awarded best actress by the teacher.”

Growing up with a brother who was ten years younger, Doering would often help him with his homework or suggest books she thought he’d enjoy. The feeling of fulfillment she experienced when her brother succeeded or had an “aha” moment led her to set her sights on teaching.

Now, as an experienced teacher, Doering says, “I work tirelessly to instill in my own students two necessary traits that they are going to need to be successful in every aspect of their life—critical thinking and empathy.”

Every day she experiences moments that keep her teaching:

…That student whose opinion changes after reading a play and realizing “integrity can be more important than survival” when other people’s lives are at stake.

…A former student approaching her at a local basketball game to tell her he was taking varsity sports photos at college thanks to skills he learned in high school.

…Students who give her cards at Christmas with thoughtful messages like, “You saved my mind by helping me find a love for reading.”

Doering’s own two children are many years apart in age: Westley is in seventh grade and Wreyn is a preschooler, both in Chelsea schools.

No surprise, then, that some of Doering’s fondest teaching moments result from the buddy program that matches her juniors with much younger third graders from Heritage School.

She loves to watch her students grow in confidence and use their leadership skills as they interview the younger students and create stories about those students that they then take back and read to them. She’s deeply touched by the effects of the program on the students who participate.

Third graders have been overheard saying wonderful things about the personalized stories created by Doering’s students, from the one proudly displaying his book to others and asking, “Did you see me in my book?” to another who is overheard saying, “I’m gonna read it every night.”

Doering provided numerous other examples of standout moments from all of her classes.

Even so, she also admits that fighting apathy is a big teaching challenge. She encourages parents to read to their kids beginning when they’re young and help build their confidence when they’re struggling.

She reminds parents, “When [kids] fail at something, as we all do, it doesn’t mean that they can’t try again; failing allows us to reflect amidst the chaos, untangle what went wrong, and create meaning from that experience to help us grow as humans.”

Doering admits the proudest moment of all is when a student tells her they’re going to study education in college so they, too, can be a positive role model. But she also recognizes, “It is equally as beautiful to watch them discover their own passion and purpose because when they do, they become unstoppable.”

All photos provided by Alexandra Doering.

Alexandra (“Alex”) Doering teaches English 11, AP Language and Composition at Stockbridge High School.

In 2023, some of Doering’s students traveled with Stockbridge seventh graders to the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Here, four of Doering’s students are pictured with the icebreaker materials they brought for the trip.

Doering’s brother, Dawson, is grown now, but helping him with his homework when he was younger inspired Doering to become a teacher.

Doering and her own children, Wreyn and Westley, enjoying Horseshoe Falls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Doering (center) with her son (left), Westley, and her daughter (right), Wreyn, celebrate Christmas in July at the Toledo Zoo.

A group of Doering’s students during the 2023/24 school year enjoying recess with their third grade “buddies.”

In June 2024, Doering’s students presented their multi-genre projects. This one featured Competing Dirtbikes.

Another multi-genre project, this one featuring the National Park System, is on display in June 2024.