My Education Pathway

Growing up in a family of educators, I never questioned my decision to go to college, but initially I refused to even consider the possibility of becoming a teacher. In high school, my mind was full of all kinds of sophomoric ideas about my future career. Neurosurgeon? Business major? Lawyer? Librarian? I was all over the place. Then while in college, I was forced to sit down with my college advisor and set a plan. Choosing a major was something I outwardly tried to avoid and inwardly struggled with on a daily basis. In the last semester of my junior year, I finally declared a major: English. Still, I was not considering teaching. But what does one do with an English degree and a passion for helping others?

Graduation quietly and quickly came and passed. With my degree in one hand and college debt in the other, I found myself needing a job, at least until I could map out my next steps. I applied with Jefferson County Public Schools and found myself working as an Instructional Assistant at was then called Ten Broeck KMI. I was placed in “Carrie’s” classroom where I helped tutor students who were seeking treatment for psychiatric disorders, emotional behavior disturbance, substance abuse, neglect, etc. There, I discovered that I enjoyed working with teenagers. With each passing day, I knew what I wanted to do. As a result, I began to inquire more about the teaching profession and suddenly found myself at Bellarmine University.

After starting Bellarmine's Alternative Certification Program, I received a call from Dave Marshall, then principal at Bullitt East High School, offering me a teaching position. I was both elated and nervous, yet confident in my decision to enter into the field of education. I made it through my first year of teaching, thanks in part to the training I received at Bellarmine University, and with the help and support of a great faculty and administration at Bullitt East.

Bellarmine prepared me for the task of successfully completing the arduous KTIP training and Bullitt East provided me with a remarkable mentor, Sarah Smith (Hardin), who still continues to inspire and guide me. It was through these experiences and through the influence of great leaders that I was forced to examine myself and evaluate my strengths and weaknesses. At first, it was easy to list weaknesses, but as I progressed many of those weaknesses soon became strengths. My inherent ability to reflect has continued to serve me well. I constantly look back on lessons or programs and make needed revisions to improve student learning, not only in my classroom, but in the greater context of the school and community. My wheels are always turning, and I am always thinking or researching new ideas to implement in the classroom and to share with colleagues.