The future of education is in the hands of current college students. Here you can meet some of those people:
Within this section, you will meet a few aspiring teachers. They responded to a series of questions touching on why they want to be an educator and what they hope to accomplish in this position. Although teaching is a demanding field, these people want to overcome all challenges thrown at them and aspire to be the best educator they can be.
Jolie Ballard - Future Secondary Math Teacher
Is there anything that inspired you to become a teacher?
"The thought of educating the future generations and being there for my students academically and emotionally"
Is there anything you would like to improve/change about the current education system? If so, how do you think it could be improved?
"Academically making sure to have a check in with my students as best as possible working with them individually to prevent falling behind in school and having a mental health check in with them as well"
What are you looking forward to when you become a teacher?
"Everything. I’m so excited to create my classroom build my lesson plans and meet all of the students"
Taylor Amos - Future Post-Secondary Special Education Teacher
Is there anything that inspired you to become a teacher?
"Working with special education students my senior year of high school,"
Why do you want to be an educator, what do you want to accomplish as a teacher)?
"I’m hoping to help break social barriers between special education students and neurotypical students in both academic settings and the community."
Is there anything you would like to improve/change about the current education system? If so, how do you think it could be improved?
"I think there could always be more opportunity for peer interactions between special education & general education students through least restrictive environments."
What are you looking forward to when you become a teacher?
"I am looking forward to helping students overcome academic and social barriers while preparing for life outside of the school."
Emily Alaniz - Future Secondary Spanish and English Teacher
Is there anything that inspired you to become a teacher?
"I had a really good experience in high school with super great and encouraging teachers that made me realize I wanted to be that teacher for other students. What inspired me to become a teacher is the reward at the end of the day of helping a student grow as a person, seeing them smile and thank you for your dedication to them as individuals. Teachers do more than just push students academically, they wants students to genuinely succeed and give their students all the love and support that can change their lives and that’s the reward that I look forward to feeling when I’m a teacher."
Is there anything you would like to improve/change about the current education system? If so, how do you think it could be improved?
"One thing I would like to improve in the education system is the way that standardized tests pressure our students. I think that being an educator entitles us to bring to the classroom the material we find important and to teach it in our own creative ways. There is too much of a “teach to the test” focus right now in our system which is hindering the true fun in teaching and also damaging our students by putting so much pressure on them for these tests."
What are you looking forward to when you become a teacher?
"To have my own classroom and see my smiling students happy to see me and challenging me everyday with their brilliant questions that I would have never thought of. I look forward to being able to work with students that truly need a powerful educator to help them thrive not only in the classroom, but in their own lives."
Irial Maloney - Future Early Childhood Teacher
Why do you want to be an educator (what do you want to accomplish as a teacher)?
"I want to be a good role model for students and if I’m that one good person or consistent thing in their life that can motivate them to strive for better and encourage them to be the best person they can be I'll feel accomplished."
Is there anything you would like to improve/change about the current education system? If so, how do you think it could be improved?
"I would like for there to be equal educational funding and resources, it’s a shame in my opinion that there are still private schools and public schools. Schools should be provided the same quality of education and resources as every other school and are not fair to the child and neither is it their fault. The system is failing them in that sense. I think the federal government should provide more funding than the little 5-10% it provides and the rest comes from state and local governments. Property taxes are a large factor in school funding and is inconsistent because property taxes range from the wealth and overtly in that neighborhood so how is that fair? Instead they should use decentralization to sector of neighborhoods to different areas instead of categorizing and grouping an entire neighborhood or city so the property taxes are more accurate or find an entirely new way to decide funding."
What are you looking forward to when you become a teacher?
I’m looking forward to meeting new little people every year and seeing them grow up throughout the years. And I’m so excited to see what they will teach me throughout the years because little ones are always teaching adults new things.
