Exploring New Places and Cultures
In July 2015, I moved back to the Detroit area after living in Asia for over eight years. Embracing an offer to move overseas for my husband’s career, in 2007 we packed up our daughter, son, dog, and two cats, and headed to Seoul, South Korea. During our time in Asia we also called home to Bangalore, India, and Shanghai, China. With my family in tow, I’ve had the opportunity and pleasure to discover diverse ways people negotiate and celebrate life. Although the people I’ve met hail from various countries, races, ethnicities, and religions, I have come to realize that no matter where someone calls home or what she eats for breakfast – people are more alike than different.
Exploration mingles into my leisure activities, as well. Not surprisingly, I love to travel. Discovering UNESCO World Heritage sites and searching for cheap art and even cheaper street food are typical things I like to do while on vacation. Meat on a stick is always a favorite. While traveling, I like to participate in open-air activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking. I’m also an avid reader, and recently I began exploring my creative side by writing poetry.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
About Me
My Journey to Become an Educator
Teaching is actually my second profession. Prior to becoming an educator, I had a business career and worked in marketing and development for profit and non-profit sectors. While working at a progressive non-profit agency that offered daycare and education for staff member’s children ranging from infants to five year olds, I happened to share a wall with the young-five kindergarten class. The children’s laughter and energetic voices were contagious – and I while I sat at my desk I was frequently reminded that I seriously considered pursuing a teaching degree while attending Michigan State University for my undergraduate studies.
Then for a number of years I took time out to raise my children and care for an ailing parent. Exploring the idea of rejoining the workforce, I discerned that my future would be much more exhilarating and rewarding if I devoted my time to sharing enthusiastic learning with children rather than sitting behind a desk. Subsequently in 2004, I decided to follow my persistent aspiration and enrolled at Eastern Michigan University to pursue a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Teacher Preparation for Elementary Education.
Just after completing my post-baccalaureate program, my family began our expatriate experience living in Asia. In both South Korea and India I worked in private international schools, teaching students and working with other educators from all six populated continents. Both schools were moderately inclusive, allowing me to work intently with many children who were learning English as an additional language, as well as children with mild-to-moderate learning differences. In South Korea I had the opportunity to wear a number of teaching hats at Seoul Foreign School’s British Division, serving as a classroom kindergarten teacher, a learning support teacher for grades 1 – 8, and a content area teacher (art, social studies, and religion) for a first grade class. In India I taught second grade at an International Baccalaureate World School called Stonehill International School. During my time there I also served as the school’s Primary Years Program Mathematics Coordinator. I’ve taught students who came from underprivileged backgrounds, as well. In China I served in a volunteer capacity as the coordinator and 4th/5th grade English teacher at a segregated migrant school for rural Chinese children who were politically barred from attending public schools in Shanghai.
Although I consider myself foremost an elementary classroom teacher, my role as a learning support teacher greatly influenced my passion for working with children who struggle to achieve academically. Working at both ends of the teaching spectrum, I found collaboration to be the key to meeting the individual needs of students. Consequently, I believe it is imperative to form strong relationships with students, families, and other colleagues. In May 2016 I completed the Master of Arts in Education program at Michigan State University, with concentrations in Special Education and Literacy Education. Through my graduate studies I have gained further insight into supporting and motivating students who struggle in order to help them realize their unlimited potential and model what it’s like to follow your dreams.
Henry Miller quote. (n.d.). Retrieved January 30, 2016, from http://expertvagabond.com/best-travel-quotes/
Photos property of Janine Baur.
