Kate Bares
Kate is teaching 7th grade math at Aldrich Middle School in Beloit, and is also the Chair of the department. Many of Kate’s classes have been videotaped professionally due to a MathMagic technology grant, will be used for staff development, and are available to teachers through the school district website. Kate says, "I have been accepted into the Fulbright Teacher exchange program, and right now I am waiting to hear if an exchange position has been found. A teacher from another country and I would trade positions for up to 1 year, if this works out. I am also considering working toward National Board Certification. On February 7, 2007, I took 42 of my students to Chicago to see the musical "Wicked" and eat lunch at Macy's Department store on State Street. After the show my students were able to meet and speak to three of the stars of the production! Everywhere we went, people commented on how well-behaved and polite the students were! The vast majority of my students had never been to a production like this, and since then many of them have asked what production we are going to see next." updated 4-30-07
Erica Buchberger
After graduating, Erica taught briefly at Menomonee Falls High School outside of Milwaukee, WI, grades 10-12 World History and Sociology. She took over for a teacher mid-year, but the district eliminated the position at the end of that year in order to save money. Since then she has continued to look for employment as a teacher, but to no avail; there is a lot of competition for a small number of jobs. She has been doing clerical temp work in the interim, is taking classes to renew her license, and has moved back to Madison.
Coco Bustamante
Coco is an ESL K-5 teacher at Crestwood Elementary, and is in her 5th year of teaching in Madison, WI. Her Beloit College certificate qualified her for this position in 2001, which she says was “almost the best 10,000 dollars I ever spent.” Coco is currently working on an advanced degree in Educational Leadership. updated 4-30-07
Oliver Chadwick
Oliver is in his third year of teaching 3rd grade general education at Ptarmigan Ridge Intermediate School in Orting, WA. He completed his MS in Curriculum Instruction and Assessment last year, and is about to complete the state mandated professional certification. Oliver has also applied to Pacific Lutheran University's advministrator program. His advice is, “Always follow your heart in the classroom. There will be times you think you need to move on but if the kids find a groove, let them stay in it. A schedule can always be changed, interest or a desire to learn about something particular can only be added to." updated 4-30-07
Claudia Foliaco
Claudia has been working in the School District of Beloit as an elementary teacher and also with the ESL program. She took this year off to have a baby and is currently back to work as an ESL/ELL Consultant translating documents and written material for the district, as well as oral interpreting at conferences and other meetings. She says next year she should be teaching again, if she doesn't find a job working bilingually in an office (which she finds she likes more). Her advice for new education majors: it is important for new education majors to know that you really find out if you like teaching or not that first year on your own. There is a lot more to education than just being in the classroom working with students. There is a lot of testing, school/district issues, parent/student issues, personal issues, etc. that you also have to deal with while teaching. These take away from the teacher/student learning time and it can get frustrating at times. Claudia really recommends connecting and working with your mentor that first year. She says, "they can really help with so much more than just the curriculum." She also suggests going out and observing other classrooms in the district during that first year (which they allow), to help give you ideas on classroom management, teaching styles, etc. Claudia's last recommendation: "Even if your first year is hard and you feel like you don't want to teach anymore, it's better to give it a second chance. The next year ask for a transfer to another school or try a different grade. Every year it is a different experience and if you really want to teach, you shouldn't give up just after one bad year."
Sarah Hurwitz (nee Taylor)
Sarah taught 4 years in Rockford IL, and is now teaching her first year in Alexandria, VA for Fairfax County Public School, right outside DC. Sarah says, "I am at kindergarten and have taught K for three years now, and may be working in summer school." She looks forward to an opportunity to visit Beloit and would be willing to mentor a first-year student teacher from Beloit, if that opportunity presents itself.
Brent Johnson
Brent is currently teaching at Breckenridge High School as a Paraprofessional and sub. He writes, "The job goes well with my primary job as a div I college football coach coaching the defensive line (NDSCS). I anticipate either going on for my masters degree or teaching at the elementary level. Anything that I can do to help please let me know. I would be interested in being a mentor for a first year teacher. Great to hear from you and best of luck."
Chris Occhiuto
Chris teaches 6th grade - all academic areas at a charter school called the Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning near Colorado Springs, CO. The school is an Expeditionary Learning Outward model. He has really enjoyed the two years he has taught there thus far. Students investigate specific areas of content for either a semester or a full year. All academic subjects if applicable, are directed toward the central theme of the investigation. For example, his students are learning about the ancient civilizations of the Maya, Aztecs and the influence of the Spanish Conquistadors. Students are directed to seek the answers to open ended guiding questions such as, "What can we learn about history through physical remains?" or "What determines history?" All Colorado state standards are covered during the investigation but students learn through various styles. Chris says, "It has been up to me to deliver the curriculum to the students (very similar to my student teaching experience in Australia) and not a series of text books which have no relationship as a whole. Students often complete authentic field work visiting museums to complete a writing project or writing to museums to ask for advice as we have built a scale model of the ancient Mayan city of Tikal. Students also go out on adventures as part of the outward bound component, such as camping, or skiing to challenge themselves in new ways. I have also been studying to recieve my master's degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in reading, at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs."
Tom Owenby
Tom is currently at the beginning of a two year master's program at the Graduate Institute of Peace Studies, Kyung Hee University. He is majoring in Peace and Global Governance (his M.A. will be in Political Science). He writes, "The campus is located about an hour and a half northeast of Seoul in the midst of lots of trees and mountains; certainly quite a bit different than the urban environment that I became accustomed to last year in Seoul. Things here are going quite well, academically and otherwise. All of the classes are conducted in English (thank God), although I am working hard to learn a bit more Korean. I am taking courses in Conflict and Peace, International Organization, Regional and Global Community, Global Agenda, Computer and Information Society, and Human Society and Modern Civilizations. All told, it is about 16 and a half hours of class a week. The readings are all pretty interesting, and I just had my first presentation a couple of weeks ago. It was on Violence and Non-violence in the South African Anti-Apartheid Movement, and it went over well. As part of the residential program here (all of the students live in the dorm), we are required to wake up at 5:45 am Monday-Friday for morning meditation, exercise, and dormitory cleaning. All told, it lasts between 45 minutes and an hour. I have found it to be a great way to get the day started, although i do get a bit sleep deprived from time to time. As preparation for the future, we are also strongly encouraged to wear a suit every day. As I had only worn a suit on two occasions before beginning my studies here, I was more than a little traumatized at the prospect of wearing such formal clothing on a daily basis. I have persevered so far, though, and even learned how to tie a tie (with some great directions from my man Ray-Ray and a wonderful 'How to Tie a Tie' direction sheet). I am also riding my bike quite a bit in preparation for the 2005 David Browne Ride this summer (around Lake Michigan in 14 days! check out www.team242.com), playing soccer on the weekends with my old team in Seoul, and trying to learn taekwondo. Me and martial arts; high comedy indeed. The cherry blossoms were absolutely amazing this year. Spring in general has been something else. Now that I am a bit outside of the city, I have really been able to appreciate the changing of the season at every stage, from the first blooming of the magnolia trees to the increasingly oppressive heat of the sun. Ah, what a wonderful time to be alive! I will be returning to the United States for a bit this summer in order to work in Wisconsin for three weeks at a summer camp, to participate in the aforementioned DBrowne bike ride, and to attempt to catch up with as many people as possible in the meantime and in between time. I hope that life is going swimmingly for each and every one of you. You are in my thoughts often and I really hope to see y'all soon!"
Amber Pierce Evenson
Amber is in her fourth year of teaching high school math (mostly algebra) in Austintown, OH. She loves what she is doing and has been doing a lot of research on teaching with technology (i.e. Smartboards, etc.). She is hoping to present at a math conference next October. In June Amber finished her masters' degree in Curriculum and Instruction through Nova Southeaster University. Amber has a real interest in helping students who want to become teachers either through some kind of mentoring program and perhaps eventually teaching post-secondary courses in the education field. She also has a goal to write/publish/edit, but has a feeling that it is going to take some time.
Julia Schagene
Julia is currently teaching in Goochland, Virginia, and says it is her first year teaching there. She is teaching 3rd grade and taking graduate classes for endorsement in Gifted and Talented Education. Last year she worked with small groups of students doing remediation to prepare ones who had failed or were expected to fail the state tests. The two years before that she taught 3rd grade at a private school. Julia was responsible for starting a science fair, cultural fair and a major economics project. She says, "I also worked as a wedding photographer taking black and white photographs and assisting a local professional. If there are any recent graduates coming to Virginia I wouldn't mind providing guidance."
Reem Totonchi
Reem worked in a middle school outside Chicago for kids with behavioral disorders and emotional disturbance, and also worked in a preschool and as a math tutor, all in her first year out of Beloit. Reem then moved to Madison, where she has been living since 2002 and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Reem received her master's of music in 2004 with a focus in diversity studies. She is currently teaching piano to people of all ages...from about 5 years old to adult students. Reem says, "I have been doing this full time for 2 years, but i started teaching piano 4 years ago while I was in school."
Miranda Zimmerman Kindschi
Miranda is excited to be making a change to teach 1st grade next year after 6 years of teaching 3rd grade, and says, “I am very excited about this upcoming change. It was time to challenge myself with a new adventure!” She is keeping herself busy by advising the Multi Ethnic Student Organization and serving on her building's Site Team, as well as keeping score and announcing at Beloit Memorial High School's home soccer games. updated 4-30-07