My senior year of high school I was a Teacher
Extern in a third grade classroom. Through that experience I had an early look
into the world of the teacher. I saw the work and planning that went into each
day. I also saw how rewarding each day was. The teacher I worked with had a
passion for her career and her enthusiasm made me excited for what my future
held.
At Western Michigan University I entered
into the Elementary Education program. During my two and half years at this
school I have sought out many opportunities to aid my future as an educator.
I have volunteered in many places throughout the community, including in elementary
classrooms, as a mentor with a sixth grader, with different art organizations
throughout campus, as a middle school cross country coach, with high school
youth ministry, and with migrants living in the area. I have seen many facets
of the education community through my work with different age students, different
subjects including arts, reading and athletics and with different cultures and
socioeconomic groups.
I have worked at SAMPI
since April 2001. SAMPI's goals are to assess science and math programs for
different schools and school districts. Through my work there I have seen what
teachers see as immediate needs in the areas of science, math, and technology
curriculum.
Kristin Lenehan