This is my calling! -- Sam

It is here! After nine months of courses, hours upon hours of observations, and many cups of tea while lesson planning, student teaching is here! I walked into the first day with warnings still ringing fresh in my ears. “Don’t dive in too quickly!” “Pace yourself!” “Be prepared to feel exhausted!” Yet, these warnings seem to have fallen on deaf ears. I am swimming in the deep end!

Although I had spent hours in the classroom, I felt as though my eyes were open to a whole new reality. I saw needs all around me: children getting suspended, disorganized closets of math materials, low benchmark scores, and an unfilled position for a head of the Intramural soccer program. No longer was I a sporadic visitor to a largely unfamiliar community: I was a helper, a mentor, and a problem solver. I was a teacher!

The first few days were rife with activity. I was asked to fill the IM soccer position, volunteered to organize the closet, agreed to take on three periods starting this coming Wednesday, and had to give several heartfelt lectures on lessons in life in an attempt to quell the rising disciplinary problems that characterize the third quarter. Yet it seems the more I take on, the more need I see. It is easy to see how one can become consumed by this profession, or, dare I say, this lifestyle.

Yet, the days have seemed to fly by! When I hear the 3:05 bell ring signaling the end of the day, it is not excitement that floods my soul; it is what I will describe as sorrow for lack of a better term. Sorrow that the students are leaving. Sorrow that the hallways, which moments before rang loudly with middle school drama, are now silent. Sorrow that my job is done. Truly, this is a profession like none other! Truly, this is my calling!

Bios of Some Amazing Teachers

Sam is teaching math to sixth graders. He is looking forward to the chance to consistently be in the classroom and see his long term goals and units come to life during student teaching.




Kare is teaching two blocks of Intensified English for tenth graders and one block of eleventh grade Advanced American Studies. She is looking forward to seeing her students everyday and interacting with them in a more direct manner. She hopes that teaching them everyday as compared to once or twice a week will help her develop a better rapport with them and allow her to better see their academic progress.


Beth is teaching chemistry to grades ten through 12. She is looking forward to spending every day with the students because chemistry students are awesome. She also looks forward to not having anymore graduate classes.



Eric is teaching 12th grade English. He is most looking forward to developing a consistent professional relationship with his students. He also wants to be a fixture in the classroom and he wants a more panoramic view of their learning as compared to the spot-visit view he has been receiving.



Cati is teaching Spanish II to 9th and 10th graders and AP Spanish to 11th and 12th graders. She is most looking forward to having a regular schedule of interacting and working with her students. She is also excited to continue teaching so she can grow more confident in her skills and more trusting in the workability of the best practices for foreign language instruction that she has been learning about this year. She is excited to be in school every day and to be on the same schedule as the students so through that continuity and regular interaction her rapport with students can grow to the point where she can learn how to best teach those particular students



Raggs is teaching the social studies portion of eleventh grade American Studies. He is looking forward to putting into practice the skills he has learned in a more direct and constant way in order to develop better relationships with his students. He is also excited to see if he will in fact enjoy teaching and helping students learn as much as he thinks he will based on his past experiences.




Amelia is teaching three regular English and one intensified English for seventh graders. She is most looking forward to working with her students because they are delightful.