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Melvin H Kreps Elementary School, and my beloved Mrs. Giermann, rocked my world – she wrote me letters for 2 years after I moved away the following spring.
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Mrs Kline, my Language Arts teacher, created wonderfully engaging, creative projects. Permitted me to work independently on a book for an entire month after standards were mastered.
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finished 8th grade –could not conceive how anyone would willingly choose to work with middle school students-- they are CRAZY!
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planning to major in chemistry and computer science… work-study job in Dept of Biochemistry
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began 15 months of travel in south pacific – NZ, Australia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Rarotonga, and Bali
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took 2 courses in anthropology and worked 60 hr weeks to earn tuition
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lots of courses in linguistics, which proved helpful in teaching students with language impairments…worked as a laborer for a landscape architect
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Working for a graphic design and screenprinting firm. Decided to pursue teaching degree, but too late to apply at UVA -- JMU accepted me in grad school, and I took 3 electives at PVCC that summer.
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began graduate program at JMU in upper elementary/middle ed (gr 4-8). First 8am class-- music for children, 5 days a week
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moved to Barboursville
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completed requirements for initial teaching certification, grades 4-8, all subjects
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frequently in sp.ed. functional skills classroom. Long-term sub in 8th grade physical science. Negative experiences prompted desire for more training in behavior mgmt and special ed.
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received Master's in Upper Elementary Education
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more challenges from students with special needs. Lots of interdisicplinary projects to reinforce all core subjects.
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teaching self-contained sp ed 4th and 5th graders and began “SOAR,” a 2-yr, intensive sp ed certification program thru UVA and VA Dept of Ed (twice a week distance-learning, plus weeknd and summer sessions)
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daughter Mariel is born – completed SOAR program with my one-month old asleep in the car seat. Decided to stay at home to raise family.
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son Edward Jr born… continuing my new career as a “human development specialist” (aka “stay-at-home” mom) .. teaching not just my own kids, but Sunday school and occasional cooperative preschool sessions
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newly separated, bought fixer-upper closer to town… trying to launch a business painting murals, sky ceilings and furniture
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Internship with Creative perspectives, a downtown multimedia design firm
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completed 2-yr PVCC Center for Workforce training and Development’s certificate program in Multimedia Design
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contract work as technical writer and graphic designer for local medical technology systems start-up.
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thought I would never go back to teaching, but accepted long term sub at Stony Point Elementary in special ed… supposed to be 6 weeks, but stretched until late April ‘03
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finished the school year at Hollymead ES as a sp.ed. TA working with nonverbal, disabled siblings who just transferred from out of state. Accepted 2003-04 sp.ed.position at Hollymead ES
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sp.ed. collaboration, resource and self-contained with K-5 students. Decided I prefer working with upper/middle ed.
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moved to Burley after H ollymead position cut to 0.5. Taught collaborative + self-contained sp.ed. math 6-8, 7th sci/soc. collaborative classes.
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Sp Ed collaboratives in all subject areas, grades 6-8. Self-contained math and language arts for 6-8 graders with ED, LD, OHI, MR, and autism. VAAP, VGLA, and SOL prep for multiple grades and subjects is overwhelming.
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7th grade language arts only! Began developing multi-media projects to enhance curriculum. Sharing assignments with students through Google Docs, and trying to master use of available resources.
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desperate to move out of self-contained classes, accepted principal's offer to teach 3 content classes while keeping one block sp.ed. collab in 7th and 8th grade sci/soc studies.
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what was I thinking? Scheduled for surgery on right wrist, but determined to learn how to integrate technology effectively in my classroom, I jumped at the chance...