Interviewer: How did you come to this school?
Interviewee: I started here as a coach, just coaching soccer. I met the previous athletic director after I graduate from college. I got a job at Home Depot, working there and he worked there part time and asked me to come help coach. After that first season of soccer, I got to know the kids a little bit better and I got to know the school a little bit better. The students themselves are what attracted me here. The community, the atmospheres and the environment was something that I had never been a part of or seen.
Teaching is something that I thought I would do later on in life, when I am an old man and had all of these life experiences. That was my thinking anyway. So, I did that and they asked me to teach lower school P.E. with the little kids. I had a degree in history and they had already had this position filled, so I was working part time here and part time there and then gradually the position opened up here. I started two classes in history and government and now I have all of the history. I kind of worked my way form part time at the very bottom, all the way up to the top, if you want to call it that here. It’s a small pyramid.
Interviewer: You are on the second floor.
Interviewee: Yeah, I am on the second floor, I am now the social studies teacher, athletic director, and the director of student affairs, so technically administrator, by title, and then I still coach.
Interviewer: That’s a lot.
The young male I chose for this interview is from Lima Peru. He is a student and an athlete here at SIUe. He came to SIUe to play sports, more specifically football or as we call it here in the United States, soccer. He is enjoying it quite a lot. This student came to the United States in 2013 and feels that each country has something different to offer.
Counseling has many components in different fields such as a school counselor, marriage and family counseling, addiction counseling, individual and private practices, and many more. For my project, I interviewed Mrs. Ross Freeman, a school counselor who talks about her journey of becoming an Elementary School Counselor. We discuss what the requirement and cost were to receive a license in the counseling field. We were also able to discuss the average salary and hourly wages for a counselor in WISD. Mrs. Freeman then goes on to enlighten me about the rewards, challenges, demands and frustrations of a school counselor.
In picking a career we need to ask certain questions. Sometimes these questions are hard to answer. Why do I would become a teacher? Who was the most influential person for you? How do you view yourself as a learner? What is your teaching style and why do you feel it is effective?
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve known what I wanted to do. I am one of those people who was blessed enough to realize my passion at an early age. As far back as I can remember, I’ve wanted to become a teacher. I can remember as a child sitting in my room, surrounded by my stuffed animals (or students, as I saw them) and forcing my younger brother to sit still and quietly do the work I assigned him. I even had two baskets which I kept on my little wooden desk; one for my “students” to turn in work, and the other for more work which needed to be graded. I spent many afternoons
Teaching was very natural for me. I felt comfortable and confident working in all my classrooms. I was fortunate to have the support from all supervising teachers and they provided me guidance and knowledge as I continued to grow in the classroom. I couldn’t wait to go to college so I could focus on teaching every day and officially start my journey as a future
Greetings to you all! I am Erika Kennedy. I currently live in Georgia where I am a first grade teacher. I have been teaching for 15 years and I don't consider it a job, but my purpose in life. I enjoy what I do and count it as a privilege to be able to make a difference in the lives of students and families where I am invested. Honestly, as I considered my next steps in my career, somehow I always knew that I was destined to do more than just that of a classroom setting. Others often encouraged me to step up more in the area of leadership, however, I sat back waiting for my turn to take the lead. Soon I realized that I didn't have to wait on others to push me into the position that I desired, but that I can set my own career path. Staying
I always thought I would be a teacher and I would make differences in lives and it would be the greatest experience in the world for me, yet being a teacher wasn’t enough, I had a need to expand my education. I decided that perhaps I needed a new career, however, I felt certain education remained my passion. I began to explore new areas of education and I realized I still want to be a member of a classroom, a school and curriculum. I aspire to guide those leading our classrooms.
I first became interested in teaching in my sophomore year in high school. My inspiration came from three amazing teachers who showed passion for their subject matter as well as a love for teaching. My desire to become a teacher was amplified by the many leadership and teaching roles that I took on while I was in Boy Scouts. While teaching in Boy Scouts I learned that teaching was what mattered most to me. Under my leadership, I helped advance many scouts to the rank of Eagle Scout as well as winning multiple awards at every summer camp that we attended. This was my jumping point into enrolling in Old Dominion University’s education program.
That time, my performance in school subjects was better than many of my friends. My friends’ parents wanted me to teach, mostly English and math to their children. That was when my teaching experience began. I continued to teach English and math in junior and senior high school. I think it was quite fun and I wanted to do it again and again. Here I am in Japan, in an alien country that I was dreaming for since the very beginning. Yet I try to look for opportunities to do my passion, teaching. I have done several education activities in Oita Prefecture area, such as cultural exchange, English teaching, and multicultural event.
My decision to be a teacher did not come easily to me. This choice was dependent on a reflection about what I was passionate about and how I could make a difference. I have chosen to become a teacher, as I believe teachers have the ability to provide future generations the stimulation for one of the most significant roles in life; to become a lifelong learner. Many teachers that I have had during my education have had a positive impact on my decision to grow and develop the skills that are fundamental to pursue a successful teaching career. My aim is to be a part of an honorable profession with the optimism that one day I will become an efficacious teacher who can provide future teachers with inspiration, as my teachers have provided for me. Through personal educational experiences and peer-reviewed academic literature, I am able to shape my approach to my pre-service teaching, as it will influence my future practice. As a teacher, there is not just one singular approach to educating students; there is a need for flexibility, diversity, adaptation and reflection.
In my 24 years of experience employed with the Department of Education I have found that working with children watching as they grow is inspiring as much as it is rewarding. Teaching helps one to sharpen their skills on all levels for the curriculum is forever changing. Being an educator has its challenging moments but its something I want to accomplish. To be successful at educating others I must continue to grow, increase and improve within.
I began as a one-on-one tutor teaching reading, comprehension, and math to students of all ages. The work was rewarding, but teaching has never been my passion. Science is what I love. Throughout the time, I served as a trainer to new employees and took on more of a leadership role. I enjoyed helping shape the new employees to teach the students, and answering their questions to help them become great at their job. I liked knowing that if I did well at my job then they would do well in teaching the children. Eventually, I was promoted to office manager. This role took me out of the teaching side and more into the business side of the company. I realized that I would not be happy to continue to progress in that role, and went back to school to pursue my science
After graduation, I searched for jobs and most of the time I froze up in the interviews. The only interview I nailed was an interview for teaching position for Duval County School Board. Therefore, I became a part of the teaching profession in the fall of 1998 teaching Biology, Algebra I, Physical Science, and Chemistry in different years up until 2001. Additional, I was a science adjunct professor for two years at Florida Community College in Jacksonville.
This meant that I was the only one left to be section leader during marching season as a sophomore. I’ve been section leader since then, and I love all of the people in my section. After marching band was over, I took over as concertmaster for my band.
Teaching is not just a job that I perform because I expect a reward at the end of each month; it is my passion and I feel extremely satisfied with every successful lesson. I like to help the society, and teaching gives me a great opportunity to do so. I am passionate about educating my students, so I work with them and motivate them to lead them to find inspiration in learning. I use different strategies to engage them and share with them the knowledge.