Post by ladywclass on Aug 3, 2013 23:16:37 GMT -5
I am about to begin my 29th year of teaching. I attended University of Houston on piano scholarship; therefore, I am a special education teacher. (Yeah ... not a straight line ...)
I always seem to feel the need to start with ... I graduated from Clear Creek High School. Most of our parents worked for NASA. My junior/senior high school years coincided with the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollos programs. Yes, it did have an impact on the way I view the world and education. While I didn't recognize it at the time, for a number of reasons I had a unique high school experience.
Bachelor's from University of Houston, Masters from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX (If you can pronounce that town's name, then you've probably been there before!) I was born in Nacogdoches and I am the 3rd generation to have a degree from that school. My dad's parents both earned masters in education at SFA in the 1930's, my dad earned his degree from SFA, and my masters degree is from SFA.
I taught for 15 years in Texas - 1st grade (4 years), combined Pre-1st/Gifted K (2 years), Gifted K-3 (7 years), Gifted 5/6 (1 year), 4th grade (1 year). All but the last year in Texas was in an area just far enough outside of Houston to be considered 'rural', fairly diverse, with about 70% free/reduced lunch. I was also 1st grade chair for a number of years (12-13 first grade teachers each year) in a school of about 1000 students in either K-3 or Pre-K to 2. (There was a change in grade distribution during the time I was there.) I also served as District GT Coordinator for 5 years while teaching full time. The last year in Texas, I taught for a year in a very affluent area near DFW airport with very well-educated parents. (That was an eye-opener!)
I moved to Indiana in 2000 and took a job as a special education teacher (K-6). Our special education services cover 2 school corporations and I have spent time in both - the last few years I have been split between the 2 corporations. I have also taught a class for IUSB-South Bend at the Elkhart campus on 3 occasions. I hold licenses in elementary education, music (K-8), supervision (K-12), mid-management (K-12), severe disabilities, emotional disabilities, mild disabilities, and an endorsement in high ability. I also have extensive training and experience teaching Orton-Gillingham reading strategies.
On a personal note, I am married with 3 daughters (all in their 30's), 2 step-sons (mid-20's), and 7 grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 17 (oldest will be a senior this coming school year).
Interesting to me to see how we've (d)evolved since I started teaching. I had visions of R&D departments for schools. We are now so into "research-based", that we seem to be stationary in our progress. If we can only do what has already been done, how will we ever find more effective ways to teach so that our students will be able to solve the problems of the future that haven't yet been contemplated?
Yeah ... I also tend to 'talk' a lot ... get used to it! (I try to be polite!)
I always seem to feel the need to start with ... I graduated from Clear Creek High School. Most of our parents worked for NASA. My junior/senior high school years coincided with the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollos programs. Yes, it did have an impact on the way I view the world and education. While I didn't recognize it at the time, for a number of reasons I had a unique high school experience.
Bachelor's from University of Houston, Masters from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX (If you can pronounce that town's name, then you've probably been there before!) I was born in Nacogdoches and I am the 3rd generation to have a degree from that school. My dad's parents both earned masters in education at SFA in the 1930's, my dad earned his degree from SFA, and my masters degree is from SFA.
I taught for 15 years in Texas - 1st grade (4 years), combined Pre-1st/Gifted K (2 years), Gifted K-3 (7 years), Gifted 5/6 (1 year), 4th grade (1 year). All but the last year in Texas was in an area just far enough outside of Houston to be considered 'rural', fairly diverse, with about 70% free/reduced lunch. I was also 1st grade chair for a number of years (12-13 first grade teachers each year) in a school of about 1000 students in either K-3 or Pre-K to 2. (There was a change in grade distribution during the time I was there.) I also served as District GT Coordinator for 5 years while teaching full time. The last year in Texas, I taught for a year in a very affluent area near DFW airport with very well-educated parents. (That was an eye-opener!)
I moved to Indiana in 2000 and took a job as a special education teacher (K-6). Our special education services cover 2 school corporations and I have spent time in both - the last few years I have been split between the 2 corporations. I have also taught a class for IUSB-South Bend at the Elkhart campus on 3 occasions. I hold licenses in elementary education, music (K-8), supervision (K-12), mid-management (K-12), severe disabilities, emotional disabilities, mild disabilities, and an endorsement in high ability. I also have extensive training and experience teaching Orton-Gillingham reading strategies.
On a personal note, I am married with 3 daughters (all in their 30's), 2 step-sons (mid-20's), and 7 grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 17 (oldest will be a senior this coming school year).
Interesting to me to see how we've (d)evolved since I started teaching. I had visions of R&D departments for schools. We are now so into "research-based", that we seem to be stationary in our progress. If we can only do what has already been done, how will we ever find more effective ways to teach so that our students will be able to solve the problems of the future that haven't yet been contemplated?
Yeah ... I also tend to 'talk' a lot ... get used to it! (I try to be polite!)
