EDUCATORS: From left, Josh Dunn, a teacher at Salisbury Middle School; Ivy Dowden, an education major at 91视频; and Kari Schamberger, associate professor of education at 91视频, in Dunn鈥檚 science classroom.
Kari Schamberger was teaching third grade in Laurel, Del., when a college student, Josh Dunn, joined her classroom as part of his program鈥檚 practicum.
鈥淚 loved having student teachers in my classroom,鈥� Schamberger said. 鈥淎nd Josh and I always had fun. He had a great rapport with the students.鈥�
Fast-forward a few years, and Schamberger is now channeling her love of shaping educators into her work at 91视频 as an associate professor of education. She was helping a new student teacher, Ivy Dowden, with a placement, and got a call from the Salisbury Middle School teacher who would be working with the student. 鈥淗e said, 鈥業t鈥檚 Josh Dunn,鈥� and I said, 鈥楾HE Josh Dunn?鈥欌��
In a full-circle moment, her former student teacher had a student teacher of his own. Schamberger was delighted.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very rewarding to see,鈥� she said.
Dowden, a dean鈥檚 list student and Salisbury resident, said she loves taking education classes from Schamberger and getting real-life experience with Dunn. 鈥淚 love how the theory and practice come together,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing in the classroom is eye-opening. I love watching students learn and seeing their personalities emerge.鈥�
All three agreed that without an in-person component, it鈥檚 hard to tell if education is the right career. 鈥淲e put our students in classrooms as soon as the first or second semester,鈥� Schamberger said. 鈥淚t is so important to get a feel for what it鈥檚 like. Field placement is where you need to shine.鈥�
Dunn agreed: 鈥淧rofessors teach theory, but seeing and doing puts that into action.鈥� He said his student teaching experience was invaluable 鈥� in fact, it was experience that made him want to get into teaching in the first place. 鈥淢y aunt was an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, and she had a night class that I volunteered in as a teenager. It was very rewarding to be able to help adults master something that could change their daily life.鈥�
After spending years in special education and other classes, Dunn is happy to be teaching middle school science class. His classroom is a rich environment with live plants that students are growing and observing, models of the solar system and a large tank with an axolotl. There are many containers of Lego bricks 鈥� he coordinates the countywide Lego competition for middle school and elementary teams.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nowhere I鈥檇 rather be,鈥� he said.
His enthusiasm is catching. Dowden had her own stint as a long-term substitute in middle school science this spring. 鈥淭eaching means a lot to me 鈥� I鈥檓 a little nervous about being in charge, but being in Mr. Dunn鈥檚 class has definitely helped me prepare.鈥�
Because Dunn鈥檚 classes cover varying levels, Dowden鈥檚 experience has been well-rounded. 鈥淪he has been lucky seeing a range of students of different types and abilities,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 was a little scared before I started,鈥� Dowden admitted.
鈥淏ut now you鈥檙e confident and comfortable,鈥� Schamberger told her.
After the long-term substitute work, Dowden feels more confident than ever.
鈥淚 cannot help but dream of the day that I become a licensed teacher,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think the most difficult part of this experience is saying goodbye to the students as they have played a huge role in inspiring me to keep following my dream. I can only hope I have impacted them as much as they have impacted me.鈥�
For others interested in becoming an educator, Schamberger says there are many options at 91视频. Degree and certificate programs prepare students for transfer into four-year programs in early childhood, elementary, secondary or special education, as well as certification and associate degree options for those eager to join the workforce. Visit the education section of the 91视频 website to learn more.