Teachers are ready too
Posted Aug 31, 2010 03:23:19 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Your son or daughter is not the only one anxious as school approaches. New teachers are also coming into unfamiliar situations, although their nervous energy tends to be one of excitement as opposed to dread. The Waterloo Region District School Board held an open house and orientation for new teachers last week to help them prepare for the school year ahead.
Some of the teachers are entering the profession after beginning their careers in another field. But for Aaron Bauer, there are definite parallels.
“I’ve been working with kids for the last six years,” says incoming Eastwood Collegiate teacher Aaron Bauer, who will teach Grade 9 and 10 Science.”I work in a local jail with young offenders and that sort of sparked my interest in continuing to work with kids.”
Nanci Henderson hopes to be the kind of person she could have used in high school. Henderson, who will be a part of the Special Education faculty at Cameron Heights this fall admits that she “hated high” school and that was part of the reason she wanted to spend her time focusing on students at risk.
The new teacher took a less traditional path to the profession, only entering university at the age of 31 and teaching English and ESL over the past couple of years while waiting for the opportunity to follow her passion, which is in “special education and student success.”
“I’m one of their point people,” Henderson explains of her role in special ed at Cameron. “I’m somebody who may not directly teach them (the students) but I follow up with them and I liaise with all their classroom teachers and all their other supports.”
Meantime, unlike many students, Erin Ledlow simply can’t wait for classes to resume.
“I’m thrilled,” she gushes, as she prepares to teach Grade 9 and 10 English at Cameron Heights.
Part of the excitement, says Ledlow, is the chance to welcome some students who are experiencing high school for the first time. For her, being in the classroom and “teaching kids first” is what has her looking forward to that first day of class.
“I really enjoy just being in the classroom with the students, getting to know them,” Ledlow says. “I’m so excited for the first day of school when I get to meet these 90 or so students I’ll be with for the first semester.”
All three teachers have grown up in the Region of Waterloo and are looking forward to working with students in their home community.
Classes start on September 7th.
