Partner Interview with
Mary Peasely
I'm a teacher at Agassiz School (PreK to 8th) which is located in the Lakeview neighborhood; most of our students are not from the neighborhood, though. Some come on buses and most by CTA or parents dropping them off.
I started teaching at Agassiz in 1989 after I'd finished my Master's degree at UIC (I had been teaching in a small Catholic school for 7 years before that); my plan was to be an LD resource teacher, but instead I was offered a position in the Autistic program. I was certainly not an expert in this area but I was a teacher and frankly was grateful to get a job in a good school and near to where I lived. Teaching kids with autism was challenging but I loved the kids and found autism fascinating (still do, too).
Right now I'm working with children who have learning disabilities, autism, and I am in-school support for a girl who is deaf (there is a DHH itinerant who comes to see her 3 X per week). Most of my students have separate minutes so I see them in my classroom; for students who have services in general education classroom either I or my assistant provide those minutes.
What I love about my job? It allows me to be creative (teaching units, bulletin boards, adapting curriculum, dealing with behaviors and emotions--of the students, I mean); my day is busy and never routine; my colleagues are terrific to work with--including the principal, classroom teachers, counselor, teaching assistants; the children at my school are friendly and caring and want to be there.
Challenges: always wanting to do more for the students who need more: time, attention, support. I'm also referring to students who are not "mine" but are in our classrooms---problems in the home, angry and sad children, struggling with reading, etc.
I've been out of UIC for awhile (I did receive both degrees from there). I think I was well prepared for teaching content areas: Language arts, Math, etc. But the most important thing I learned was how to find out things for myself: ask people for help, ask questions, learn more, seek out information, work in teams/work with colleagues.
First year of teaching: yes, difficult. Learning to be flexible, think on my feet, manage behaviors effectively, feeling overwhelmed with demands/expectations of principal, parents and students.
Message to those preparing to teach: learn how to take care of yourself first of all; know yourself and find out what you value (how students treat each other, how you will show respect for students, how you expect to be treated by them). Another key message: seek/ask for help. Find a mentor at your school and take advantage of that person's experience and wisdom (and kindness and comfort).
Important thing about becoming a teacher: it may sound trite or cliche, but you really do make a difference in a child's life by teaching him/her; by paying attention and having regard for that student.
