2007 Student Spotlights

Laura Ramsey

Before deciding to major in elementary education, Laura Ramsey seriously considered becoming a physician’s assistant or going into journalism. However, during her freshman year at BYU she went to China for a summer to teach children English, and her plans changed. “The kids were so excited to learn,” said Ramsey. “It was great to see their enthusiasm in such an interesting culture.” The children’s enthusiasm affected Ramsey to choose education.

“I evaluated all my options and decided that [education] fit best with my personality,” said Ramsey, a 20-year-old junior from South Jordan. She added that she couldn’t be happier with her choice and loves the camaraderie she finds within the program. “I enjoy the fact that the classes are small and that I know everyone in them,” she said. “The teachers are so great and have so much experience to offer.”

Ramsey, who enjoys reading and attending concerts, is in the first “cohort” semester of the elementary education program where she does assistant teaching in the Provo School District. She has especially enjoyed her drama and psychology classes. One of her favorite experiences was performing in “Jack in the Beanstalk” at Wasatch Elementary School. “It was so much fun,” she recalled.

Ramsey expressed her admiration for the high caliber McKay School faculty. “All the faculty here have been so helpful,” said Ramsey. “The professors know what they are doing because they’ve all had so much previous experience in a variety of school environments. They know how to guide students to be teachers . . . . I want to use my experience here [at the McKay School] to the fullest.”

Ramsey hopes to teach older elementary students--around fifth grade and even the middle school years. “They are less needy than the younger ages, and [fifth grade is a time] when they form opinions, so I want to affect them at that crucial time in their lives,” Ramsey explained. She is also pondering educational leadership. “I think it would be neat to have an influence on the community,” said Ramsey.

Ramsey said the most important tool for an educator to have is flexibility. “So many things do not go as planned, and you have to be able to adjust and adapt quickly,” she explained.

26 November 2007

Andrea Cahill

Andrea Cahill considers empathy to be an educator’s most important tool. The 21-year-old senior from the Houston area says that she first learned empathy growing up as the middle child of seven. “It is important to understand that you must treat all children in the same way,” she explained. “When children know that you care, you can reach out to them.”

As an elementary education major, Cahill knows that the McKay School has been a good choice for her. “Education is something that runs deep in my family and one of the ways I knew I could make an impact,” she said. She has enjoyed the fact that her classes have not been sit-down lectures. “It is interactive all the time,” she remarked. “Our classes are always actively engaged in fun projects.”

In particular, Cahill mentioned the drama class as a favorite for learning interesting methods needed to catch the attention of children. “We learned how each child learns a different way, and [we experienced] a variety of interactive ideas,” she said. “It’s important to capture the children’s attention in the first minute of instruction or else they will be bored for the rest of the lesson.”

Cahill knows that her desire to teach comes from a lifelong desire for learning. “To be a teacher you have to know things about all different topics,” she explained. “I get excited to learn new things so that I can share my knowledge with others.”

Cahill says her main inspiration for going into education was her third grade teacher, an elderly lady who treated all children with respect and patience. “She cared about us all,” said Cahill. “She really thought about the questions we asked and took time to think before she answered. She would help us until we understood the concepts and wouldn’t mind if she had already explained [something] five times.”

Cahill, who wants to teach second grade, says she appreciates the useful management plans she has learned to equip her to discipline children. “My biggest fear is that children will not give me the authority I need,” she said. “I want to be able to apply everything I’ve learned here so that I am able to go forward and teach with confidence.”

In her spare time, Cahill enjoys reading, experiencing the outdoors, camping, rollerblading, baking and spending time with her husband David.

2007

Jennifer Funk

For Jennifer Funk, education has always been a family affair. With a mother and older sisters who all graduated from BYU in elementary education, the 20-year-old from Orem has long considered teaching to be a noble calling and known that she wanted to be a part of it. As the youngest of five children, Jennifer has also looked forward to teaching as an opportunity to get a word in. “I liked the idea of being in charge of someone for a change!” Funk exclaimed.

From her own elementary school years, Funk has been drawn to the decisiveness of mathematics. “For every problem, there is always a right answer!” Funk said. As a future teacher, she noted that she wants kids to develop an enthusiasm for math by being able to realize the plethora of ways in which math applies to their lives. “I want to associate math cognitively with games to make math more fun,” Funk added.

Although Funk has been an aunt since she was in 5th grade, it was in high school that she began to have formal teaching experiences, tutoring young children to read. Last year Funk began substitute teaching at local schools for grades K-12. Through this experience she discovered that her favorite age to teach is 2nd or 3rd grade. “It’s a really great age because the kids are smart, excited about school, and still very sweet,” she explained.

Funk’s older sister teaches 2nd grade at Snow Springs Elementary School in Lehi, where Jennifer goes every Friday to help, gain experience— and be entertained. “I wish I could be there all day,” she said. “I walk away laughing—the kids are so funny!”

Along with her elementary education major, Funk is also pursuing a minor in music. Funk has played the piano for 14 years and has recently started learning the guitar. She hopes to use her musical talents in her future classrooms, believing that music can be one of the best teaching aids. “I think music can be a very helpful tool in terms of helping kids remember what they learn,” she remarked. In addition to music, Funk enjoys scrap booking, kickboxing, shopping, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Funk has enjoyed the diversity of subjects and training offered at the McKay School of Education. “I really appreciate the emphasis on multicultural education,” she commented. “I loved my children’s literature class, dance classes . . . everything has been great!” Overall, Funk says she can’t wait to start teaching a classroom of her own. “I want to help influence kids’ lives and watch them succeed,” she said.

2007

 

Alison Melville

From early childhood, elementary education major Alison Melville knew she was destined to be in front of a classroom. “I was the girl who forced her [three younger] brothers to play ‘school’ all day long,” Melville said. Along with musical theater, she has loved teaching all her life. “Doing this major has been in the making for a long time,” she remarked.

Melville, who is a junior, said her first motivating experience with school came in 2nd grade when her teacher, Mrs. Kinney, made learning seem like a byproduct of having fun. “I remember her laughing all the time and creating a fun, happy environment for us to learn,” explained Melville. “She really did make a difference in that we wanted to come to school and learn.”

A native of the Dallas, Texas, area, Melville had her first real experience in front of the classroom with the Texas Association of Future Educators (T.A.F.E.), a statewide association that seeks out opportunities for interested high school students to get involved with student teaching. Melville was able to gain first-hand experience teaching beside her revered 2nd grade teacher and junior high choir teachers. During this experience she learned how to deal with a variety of children. “I learned many ways to interact with different types of kids, as well as [handle] different disciplinary styles,” Melville said.

Melville came to BYU to study at the McKay School of Education and gain experience through opportunities offered through the student teaching and internship programs. In particular, Melville said she has enjoyed her math concepts class and drama class associated with the elementary education major. “I learned new ways to be creative,” Melville noted.

In her spare time, Melville enjoys singing, dancing, reading, and creative writing. She hopes that she can one day publish a children’s book in conjunction with teaching.

After BYU, Melville hopes to teach students between the levels of 4th and 6th grade. “I want to show students that education is not a waste of time and will help them in life,” she explained.

2007

 

Darcie Ells

After struggling about her career path , Darcie Ells decided seek the opinion of her roommate, who is in the elementary education program. Partially due to that conversation, Ells decided her best choice was elementary education. This fall she will officially begin her course work as an elementary education major.

“The classes are a lot of fun and learning at the same time,” Ells said. “The combination makes them very enjoyable."

Ells is already looking forward to her graduation. She is highly motivated by the fact that someday she will be able to teach in her own classroom. “I know that the great experiences I will have in the elementary education program will give me the necessary skills and courage that are needed for my success,” said Ells. Last winter, she was a volunteer teacher for a first grade class in Sage Creek Elementary School in Springville. Ells is also a volunteer at the Orem Literacy Center where she helps both first and sixth grade students improve in their reading, writing, and spelling.

In Ells opinion, knowledge and patience are the most important tools for an educator. She explains that patience is a virtue that can be developed with time and experience, but obtaining knowledge comes after lots of study. “Being comfortable with those you teach is also an essential part in teaching.” Ells added.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Ells is the youngest of seven children. She loves driving, cooking, reading, and watching movies, especially comedies. She also enjoys the outdoors.

2007

Zachary Dale Eagar

Zachary Dale Eagar started his journey at BYU as an English major. In his sophomore year he changed his emphasis to public relations. He then became an exercise science student with emphasis on physical therapy. The next fall, Eager declared an open major and considered going into geology and anthropology.

Eagar came to feel that he had hard time deciding on a major because of his love of learning. He wanted a major that would not restrict him to a particular field of study, but allow him to explore many areas.

Last winter Eager realized that vision when he was accepted into elementary education program. He would not have to give up his love of learning in any subject, but would use his varied interests to become a better teacher.

Eager is now enjoying his internship. It is his goal to emulate the instructors at the McKay School. He explains, “Every professor I’ve had has been passionate about teaching and learning. I too want to be able to teach with great passion.”

Born in Moses Lake, a rural farm town in eastern Washington, Eager served an LDS mission in Brazil and was released in August 2004. Upon his return, he immediately resumed classes at BYU where he met Lindsey. They were married in April of 2005.

Eagar enjoys the outdoors, including biking, hiking, and walks with his wife.

2007

Kimberly Gardner

Kimberly Gardner is the youngest of five children in her family. Throughout her life, her father, an accounting professor at BYU, has been the motivator who helped her excel in anything she did. Since her father and three older brothers all have accounting degrees, Gardner was inclined to go into business and accounting as her career field.

After taking a few business classes, Gardner quickly decided business and accounting were not her areas of greatest interest. Before deciding on a new major, Gardner took a variety of classes, including an education class. It was during that class that Gardner decided that teaching was what she wanted to do. “Although I have taught swimming lessons to children since I was 18, I never made the connection to a love of teaching.”

Upon returning from her mission, Gardner continued pursuing her degree in elementary education. “Since being home from my mission, I have found a different and stronger drive,” she explained. “I want to go out and change something, help my students, and be a positive influence in the teaching system.”

Gardner loves to read, travel, and play sports. She was a member of the Orem Timpanogos Aquatic Club for 11 years, and swam four years for the swim team at Mountain View High School.

2007

 

 

Jessica Gibb

Growing up, Jessica Gibb always thought an honorable profession would be one in medicine, law, engineering or a similar field. She never imagined herself as a future educator. She considered teaching, especially children, as “not serious” and promised herself she would avoid it. “There is no prestige in teaching,” she said.

Today Gibb is a senior in the elementary education program at the McKay School of Education, minoring in teaching English to speakers of other language (TESOL), and enjoying the experience. How did her views on teaching and children change?

In April 2004 Gibb began serving an LDS mission in Curitiba, Brazil, where she had the opportunity and assignment to teach English to children for seven and a half months. It was at this time that she realized how much she enjoyed teaching, especially children. She believes it was Heavenly Father’s way of helping her realize what her life calling was to be.

After her mission, Gibb was accepted into the McKay School of Education and began her training as an elementary school teacher. “I did not understand what was required to become a teacher,” Gibb said. “With my experience from all the classes I have taken at the McKay School, I better understand the role of a teacher. This has helped me develop my own philosophy about teaching and has strengthened my desire to be a good teacher.”

Last fall and winter, Gibb taught fifth grade in the after-school program at Grandview Elementary School. This summer, she is teaching fourth grade in summer school.

Gibb was born in Ellensburg, Washington, and grew up on a farm. She is the oldest of seven children in her family. She loves basketball, running and hiking.

2007

Jodee Black

After she was accepted into the BYU Family and Consumer Science Education Program, Jodee Black began looking for every opportunity to improve her teaching skills in her chosen field. “Home economics, my emphases at the Family and Consumer Science Program at the McKay is very family centered, and that has helped me a lot, both in and out of the classroom,” she explains. “My experience at BYU has given me a lot of opportunity to be in classrooms and develop relationships with children.” She also began teaching part time as an assistant teacher in a charter school in Springville in August of 2006.

Black considers her greatest accomplishment to be her ability to love the kids she teaches. “I did not expect to love the kids in the charter school as much as I do,” she stated. “Now I look forward to being with them daily. I want to help them become the best they can be.” In her opinion, being able to see the potential in children and then helping them accomplish that potential is the most important tool for an educator. “Without such vision, teachers cannot effectively carry out their responsibilities,” she added.

Black plans on moving out of Utah so she can experience what teaching is like elsewhere. Her greatest motivation in teaching and in life comes from her mother, who passed through the challenges of life alone but never let adversity stop her. “Adversity is there for a reason,” says Black.

In her leisure time, Black likes horseback riding and camping. She also enjoys reading historical fiction and children’s literature.

 

Jacob Fleming

Continuing a long-standing tradition of teachers in his family, Jacob Fleming is majoring in history teaching with minors in coaching and physical education. He anticipates that he will enjoy teaching very much. “I pursued a teaching major because I love to interact with people,” Fleming stated. “It will give me an opportunity to teach students what they need to learn and help them make good progress in their lives.”

This winter, Fleming worked with Dr. Kristie Phillips, associate professor in the Department of Sociology, and Jen Presnell, a graduate student in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, on a research project concerning school choice in the Salt Lake School District.  The project looks at the dynamics of why students are leaving their school zones and also where these students are going. The project examines how the change of school zones is affected by ethnicity and socio-economic level.

On April 13, 2007, Fleming presented his preliminary findings at the McKay School of Education Second Annual Mentored Research Conference. His research indicates that those who leave their school zones are made up of both upper and middle class white students.

Fleming feels privileged to be a student of the McKay School of Education. “I appreciate all the opportunities I get to learn from experienced professionals,” Fleming said. He looks forward to the opportunity to enter classrooms next winter and see how students learn in a real world setting.  He feels that by the time he graduates he will be fully prepared to go into the world and be a teacher of substance.

Born in Pasadena, California, Fleming moved with his family to Gilbert, Arizona, when he was about a year old. At BYU he began running as a hobby, and last October he ran in the St. George marathon. “This was a great accomplishment for me,” he said. “I was so proud of myself because I didn’t expect to finish the run.” He plans to run a half marathon this summer.

2007

Alison Powell

Twenty-three-year-old Allison Powell was thrilled when she received a letter in the mail congratulating her on being selected by the research coordinator of the David O. McKay School of Education to receive the 2007 award from the Philip and LaRene Taylor Endowed Mentorship in the amount of $2,000. She will be working with Michelle Marchant as her mentor.

Powell grew up in Salt Lake City, the oldest of three girls in her family. During this time she had the opportunity to be friends with children in her ward and neighborhood who had special and severe needs. Being friends with these children greatly increased her passion for helping people with disabilities and created a strong desire in her to go into special education emphasizing severe disabilities so that she could help them professionally.

“BYU provides me with many educational experiences,” Powell said. “They have partnerships with many schools.  There also is a Best Buddy Club where I was paired with someone with severe needs so I can be a mentor. I also work at an elementary school as a Para-educator. These experiences give me opportunities to practice the skills I am learning.” Exciting experiences Powell has had outside of BYU include volunteering at Special Olympics.

“I really like the program at BYU because it is revamped yearly to make it better,” she said. “My research grant gives me the opportunity to work with Michelle Marchant, a member of faculty who shows me the kind of teacher I want to be. She strives for excellence in everything.”

For her research, Powell will observe two sessions in an elementary school weekly and collect data to help her share knowledge with anyone who in interested in how to teach children with severe needs.

Powell’s greatest goal is to be a teacher in a severe disabilities unit in an elementary school, preparing her students to be mainstreamed in general classes. When she is not teaching, she enjoys playing the piano, singing, and folk dancing.

2007

Stephanie Marie Guerrero

Seeing the influence of both good and poor teachers in her life while growing up, Stephanie Marie Guerrero decided to major in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).   Her dream was to become like her mother, one of the great teachers who influenced her for good.  “I want to become a teacher so I can help children become better,” Guerrero said. “My family has a history of teachers who led a lot of children in the right direction, and I want to be able to do the same.”

Born in Houston Texas, Guerrero grew up with three brothers and two sisters. She was excited when accepted to BYU but even more excited when she was accepted as an education major in the McKay School of Education. “I knew it was finally time to begin working towards achieving my lifelong career goal,” she said.

“My experience at the McKay School of Education has helped me realize what works when teaching children and what doesn’t work,” Guerrero continued.  “It has also shown me what kind of influence teaching strategies can have on children. Most importantly, I learned how to make learning fun while following curriculum.”

Guerrero had the opportunity to student teach in the BYU preschool, where she gained practical classroom experience. She has also participated in a lot of volunteer work with students; she is highly motivated to accomplish her goal to become a great teacher.

Although her mother is her role model when it comes to teaching, her grandmother is her source of strength when it comes to following her goal.  “My grandmother is my greatest source of strength and motivation,” Guerrero explained. “She won’t be around much longer, so I want to accomplish as much as I can while she is still here to participate in it.”

2007