I Am A White Male

I am a great teacher and am passionate about achieving my goals. I have several years of teaching experience and my enthusiasm for teaching children has only grown.

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

My educational background, work experience and student teaching experience would make me an excellent addition to the teaching staff. The University of Massachusetts Boston and the Braintree Public Schools has prepared me well with a strong understanding of cognitive development in children. University of Massachusetts has a strong focus on preparing teachers to face the challenges of teaching students with multi-cultural, and multi-lingual classrooms and has exposed me to a variety of learning styles and techniques. My current and past working experience along with my student teaching has allowed me to bring the techniques into the fast growing diverse population in the Braintree Public Schools. It has allowed me to show students how to respect, understand and appreciate the racial diversity in our society and schools that align with Braintree Public Schools beliefs.

I am a highly qualified teacher with six years of experience in the classroom. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, and currently seeking a Master degree in School Counseling. Over the past six years, I have been a primary classroom teacher which has allow me to gain many skills and experience that has helped me in the classroom.

“I am painfully aware that I am not a superhuman. I do the same job as thousands of other dedicated teachers who try and make a difference” (Esquith, 2007, p. 30). These humbling and nonchalant words were spoken by an incredible man, Rafe Esquith. He is a guy of many, many talents, who most could only dream of acquiring. Rafe stretches the boundaries, and goes above and beyond the norms of teaching each day. He spends the majority of his time dwelling in a crowded, poverty filled, vandalized classroom, where the kid’s primary language is morethan likely, not English. He does not see this as a downfall though, he uses this to his advantage and embraces each student like they are his own. Outsiders looking in would be stunned to find such hardworking,

I am very committed to becoming a teacher, and am caring and personable. I love helping others, which is why I want to become a teacher. I have a lot of experience working with elementary school children. I have been a homework tutor for a public school, public library, and for a community center. I also have experience

I believe that education is the key in developing today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders. Education is the basis on which individuals develop their self-concept and the desire to become more knowledgeable. I want to become an educator because I am interested in helping elementary students become active learners and also to assist with their social skills. I believe I can make a difference to many students as they start their educational foundation. I feel that all teachers should possess the desire to devote their hard work and efforts to their students’ educational success. I view teaching as not only one of the most respected careers, but also as one in which the rewards are great and many

This article whose focus was on minority teacher candidates in teacher education programs presented an argument that schools with increased numbers of minority teachers will have a richer multicultural knowledge base, stronger roles models, and more shared experiences between students and teachers, and greater numbers of insider experiences that help build bridges between cultures (Szecsi & Spillman, 2012). The article touched on a few of the “hindrances”, like low pay and standardized test difficulties, but the purpose the article was to help readers gain an understanding of how minorities in teacher education programs feel about their journey to becoming a teacher. The article showcased a study of three minority students in a teacher education

He decided to pursue a career as a high school English teacher. He began his career teaching in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he taught for 6 years falling more and more in love with being an educator every day. While teaching, he pursued his master’s degree in educational leadership, and gradually took on roles within the school practicing leadership and curriculum development. It was there that he admits having his first real exposure to a melting pot of diversity both in his students, and his colleagues (personal communication, June 3, 2016).

Needing a sixth period class to complete my senior year schedule, I dubiously signed up for Future Teachers. This course was designed for twelfth grade students at my high school, West-Mont Christian Academy, to assist an elementary teacher for the academic year. Very shortly did I discover that this course would make my decision for the future. The love for children and the desire to help only grew on me as the course continued. Working with the most special group of kindergarteners, I knew I was right where I was meant to be. Spending time with the children, teaching them, seeing their curiosity, and watching them grow into young children of God, fulfilled me. Before signing up for this course, I was not interested in becoming an education

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.

I am currently in my 10th year of teaching; all with San Angelo ISD and at the secondary level. I hold certifications in History 8-12 and all level Sped. I have taught as both a General Education and Special Education teacher. I started my teaching career as a General Education teacher at Lake View High School teaching 11th grade US History. My experience as a Special Education teacher has been more diverse, I was the behavior management teacher at Carver for a little more than three years and I also traveled throughout the district as a behavior specialist assisting teachers, principals and parents with students who demonstrated severe behavior challenges in the classroom. I guess I have come full circle so to speak as I am currently

In Freedom Writers, a teacher, Erin Gruwell, supported and believed in her at-risk students when others did not, this caused a positive impact on her student’s lives. Other teachers were confident that Gruwell’s students will not accomplish much and drop out. In my case, I did not experience the same situations as the students, but Gruwell’s spirit resembled the one teacher that changed my life. At times when I wanted to give up, like the students, I remembered I had a teacher who made her students see the importance of an education and would do anything in her power to help her students succeed. I believe the teachers in our school system serve as a beneficial factor in American education.

Ever since I was a little girl, I knew that in my future I wanted to become a teacher. I always looked up to my teachers, especially the ones I had in elementary school. I even played 'school' with my friends and pretended I had my own classroom. I loved being in charge. During a summer, I was given the opportunity to work as an Energy Express mentor and work with a group of eight children. This was one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever been through. I was a mentor to help guide the children, and by the end of the summer I felt as if I had really accomplished something. I am planning to pursue a career in elementary education. I love children, and just knowing that as a

My family, culture, educational, professional experiences have all been positive. The different teachers that I have had; guided me into considering the teaching career for many reasons. First, my family has guided me, my mom and dad have always found the right schools for me. They have pushed me to do hard things that make me scared. They have had faith in the school’s that I chose were the right choices, and they will grow on me. My cultural experience is also a factor of why I want to be a teacher. My schools have been centered on helping students who have learning differences, so I have always been open about having a learning difference to other people. My educational experience has been amazing. It has been positive for me because the schools I have gone to were safe places that I could be myself. The teachers at my schools made a significant impact on me starting at a young age. The professional experience has been limited but beneficial. I worked at Stratford Friends School; I learned it is so much fun to work with children who were just like me. I love the children and school. I get excited about going back to school shopping. I love to dance in the isles, and I love to look at all the beautiful school supplies.