Melissa Grevsmuehl
Since graduating from Beloit Mel had an amazing internship at the Milwaukee County Zoo (which she highly recommends) where she learned many behavior management techniques and some fun educational games to use during those spare 5 minutes that sometimes pop up in a school day. She also learned a lot of cool animal tidbits. Mel did 10 weeks of student teaching in Hales Corners, WI and another 8 in Beloit. She says that anyone having a rough time with student teaching can feel free to contact her - she will comiserate and offer advise if wanted. She says she was blessed to find a permanent, full-time position in January and is now teaching 3rd grade in Beloit, WI. Mel says that her kids are extremely creative, inquisitive, and love to dance. There are some very long days, but at the end she leaves smiling. She says, "I am lucky enough to laugh every day with these students despite the growing pains we're all going through as we adjust to each other."
Desiree McCallips
Desi is currently looking for fall employment in her hometown of Durand, IL, where there are potential positions opening up. She has been busy with her growing family which now includes a newborn daughter as well as her toddler son (and husband). Desi is looking forward to keeping in touch with friends who went through the Education program at Beloit and likes the idea of reunions and a network. She says, "It is great to stay in touch."
Ashley McManus
Ashley is teaching 1st grade and is the Art Coordinator for the Primary School at The Regent's International School in Thailand. Next year she will be heading off to El Salvador to teach at the ABC International School of San Salvador. Ashley says her "Beloit College experience has helped a lot. Especially the focus on teaching in a diverse classroom. At times it can be very challenging but using it as am advantage is the way to go." She also says, "A tip that I recently told Bill New was the best advice he ever gave me was to let the kids do everything. If you have cutting to do for preparation for a lesson let the kids do it. If you have punching holes to do for a preparation for a lesson let the kids do it; it helps you out as a teacher and is a great experience for the kids. Also teach at International Schools. You can work all over the world, you have almost no discipline issues, and your life is a holiday with adorable kids.” updated 4-30-07
Matthew Richmond
In May of 2006, Matt Richmond (2004) received his Masters degree in Education from Roosevelt University (Chicago, IL) with an emphasis in Latin American & Latino Studies. Since August of 2006, he has been working toward a doctorate Psy.D.) in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In this regard, he will be receiving a semi-terminal Masters degree (i.e., a second M.A.) in clinical psychology in June of 2008. He also plans to begin his dissertation proposal in the next few months, which will, (if all goes as planned,) be a "Participatory Action Research (PAR) study of Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) in parents of children with Spina Bifida." In many ways, this work is an extension of the methodology used (e.g., Action Research) during his undergraduate symposium project at Beloit.
In terms of clinical work, Matt worked from June of 2006 until July 2007 as a bilingual (Spanish) psycho-educational diagnostician and behavioral therapist for Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (Chicago, IL). Beginning in July of 2007, (and until June of 2008,) his role has been as a diagnostic extern in pediatric neuropsychology with the Alexian Neuroscience Institute (Elk Grove Village, IL) in conjunction with the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) Department of Psychiatry's Neuropsychiatric Institute. Matt is also pleased to report that he has just recently secured a psychotherapy externship for the upcoming year (7/08-6/09), marking his return to the Pediatric Developmental Center (PDC) of Advocate Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. The PDC @ Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center is the largest and most comprehensive multidisciplinary developmental evaluation and treatment center for children. birth to age eighteen, in the state of Illinois. Finally, Matt is presently in his second two-year term as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois (SBAIL), and holds the Interim Chair of the Program Committee with this organization.
** For any interested parties, under the leadership of Matt Richmond (2004), the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois (<http://www.sbail.org>www.sbail.org) will be hosting a conference on parental advocacy across the lifespan for families of children with spina bifida. This event will take place in Aurora, Illinois (90 minutes from Beloit) on the morning of Saturday, May 17th, 2008, and is free of charge. The primary audience is intended to be parents, guardians, or other adult family members who have a child, relative or ward with spina bifida (birth to age 21). However, others with more academic interest in these issues, especially individuals associated with Beloit College, are very much welcome to attend. For more information or to register for the conference with the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois, please contact Matt Richmond, M.A., via e-mail: <mailto:joie1112@aol.com>joie1112@aol.com. Updated 4-8-08