Three Seniors Already Making the Grade in the Classroom

Before they even graduate, three University of the Ozarks education majors are already doing the work-leading elementary classrooms, inspiring young learners, and putting years of preparation into practice at Clarksville Primary School.

Abigail Kindschi (pictured from left), Camryn Kapics and Chloe Weathers are wrapping up their year-long, student-teaching internships this month at the school as they prepare to graduate from Ozarks in May and begin their teaching careers. Kindschi and Kapics are interning in kindergarten classes and Weathers is in a first-grade class.

Kindschi's reason for going into education was both personal and poignant: Her father passed away when she was in high school.

"I entered the field of education because I wanted to work in a field where I could have the biggest impact and do the most good," she said. "I also chose education because it was another way to be close to my dad. I found out that before he passed he was wanting me to pursue education. Since finding that out, being an education major has always made me feel just a little bit closer to him."

Kapics, from Las Vegas, Nev., said she decided to go into education because she wants to make a difference in students' lives.

"Growing up, I was blessed with incredible teachers who supported, encouraged, and inspired me, and I want to provide that same experience for my future students," she said. "As a child, I was very shy, and my teachers played a big role in helping me come out of my shell, which is something I hope to do for my own students. I want to be a safe, supportive person in their lives and create a classroom environment where they feel comfortable being themselves. I believe school should be a welcoming place where children feel valued, supported, and excited to learn."

Weathers, a Clarksville native whose mother was a secondary mathematics teacher and whose father was in law enforcement, said that the way her parents lived their lives influenced her career choice.

"Growing up, I was never sure what I wanted to choose as a future occupation," she said. "I have always been extremely close to my parents and look up to them. I enjoy watching how selfless they are and how they drop anything to help others, whether it is something big or small. From an early age, I saw the differences that my parents made in other people's lives and I have always worked to be a positive figure and example like they have been for me. I took this into major consideration when choosing my profession. I wanted to choose a job that would allow me to help others become better versions of themselves."

Weathers, a standout cross country runner and swimmer at Ozarks, said she discovered she enjoyed working with children through her experiences in youth coaching and camp counseling.

"I have had the opportunity to coach young athletes on a summer league swim team," she said. "My favorite thing about coaching was watching young athletes build important skills such as dedication and discipline as well as building a love for the sport of swimming. Additionally, Ozarks Outdoors gave me the opportunity to be a counselor at a summer camp called Camp Take a Hike. I worked with three other counselors to plan the activities for the camp to give the campers the best experience possible. This camp allowed me to further develop my passion for the profession of teaching."

Kapics called her internship "one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of my life."

"I have truly fallen in love with kindergarten and working with young learners," Kapics said. "The most surprising thing to me has been how much growth students can make in such a short amount of time, both academically and socially, and it has been incredible to witness. Through this experience, I have learned the importance of being flexible and adaptable, as well as the value of building genuine relationships with students. Those relationships are the foundation for a positive and successful classroom."

Said Weathers, "My student internship has been an amazing experience. I have learned so much from my mentor teacher especially when it comes to classroom management and engagement strategies. She has helped me put everything I have learned at the university into practice. The most valuble thing I have learned is finding my teacher voice. My mentor teacher has been extremely helpful in training me to become a more confident and effective teacher. One day I hope to become as amazing as she is at the profession."

Weathers said one of her favorite moments has been watching her students gain confidence.

"One of my favorite things to do is read their journals to see how much they learned and remember from the lesson that day," she said. "They have shown so much growth in their writing and I love seeing the creativity in their responses, whether they are retelling their favorite fairytale or writing about their favorite animal habitat."

One of Kindschi's most memorable moments from her internship involved working with a student who was struggling with reading.

"The student was very embarrassed by it," she said. "I worked with that student and I was so proud to see all the improvement the student has made. It was a very high point in my student teaching."

Kapics said she particularly enjoyed helping her students earn an "I Know All My Letters and Sounds" t-shirt.

"To earn this, they had to go to the librarian and confidently say all of their letters and sounds," Kapics said. "Watching my students work so hard toward this goal and then seeing their excitement and pride when they achieved it was incredibly fulfilling. It was a true 'I did it' moment for them, and being a part of that made it very special."

All three students credited the Pat Walker Teacher Education at U of O for preparing them for their first job.

"The Pat Walker Teacher Education program has prepared me in so many ways, especially by helping me become adaptable and well-prepared," Kapics said. "I have had the opportunity to observe and work in a wide range of grade levels and classroom environments, which has broadened my perspective and strengthened my teaching skills. This experience has also instilled confidence in me and reassured me that I am ready to be an effective and successful teacher in my own classroom."

Kindschi said the teacher education program has helped her discover what it means to be a good teacher.

"They helped us prepare for anything that is thrown our way and to think on our feet and land on them even when you feel like you're falling," she said. "They do that be having us think with open minds. I will always be appreciative of the Pat Walker Program for keeping my mind open and prepared for future learning. This is something that is highly needed in the classroom and is difficult to learn."

Weathers said she can't wait to put all the lessons abnd knowledge she's learned into her very own classroom, beginning in the fall.

"The Pat Walker Teacher Education Program has taught me many important aspects of becoming a teacher," she said. "The courses that I have taken have taught me important research-based strategies and teaching methods that I can use in my future classroom. It has also taught me a variety of classroom management strategies that I will be able to utilize. This program has also prepared me for interviews and given me the proper preparation I need in order to feel confident in my knowledge of teaching students."

Topics: Elementary Education