Rebecca J.

“ I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from UW-Whitewater, graduating with honors, in December of 2007. Since then, I have had many experiences teaching elementary school. This summer, I will be teaching Leap into 1st Grade for the Waukesha School District. Currently, I am an elementary substitute teacher for many different public schools including West Bend, Grafton, New Berlin and Waukesha....

I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from UW-Whitewater, graduating with honors, in December of 2007. Since then, I have had many experiences teaching elementary school. This summer, I will be teaching Leap into 1st Grade for the Waukesha School District. Currently, I am an elementary substitute teacher for many different public schools including West Bend, Grafton, New Berlin and Waukesha. I was recently a Title 1 teacher for a few different non-public Milwaukee schools. In this position, I taught students who were struggling with Reading and Math. I also taught reading, math, and study skills at Sylvan Learning Center, bringing one child's reading level from below 4th grade level to a 7th grade level!
I have had many significant things happen in my life that have had a great impact on who I am today. They have not been the easiest things to endure, but they have made me stronger and more aware of what really matters in life. I have realized over the course of my life that it is not about what you do with your life that matters; it is about how you impact another's life and the relationships you build along the way. This is my number one reason for becoming a teacher.
When I first entered elementary school, at the age of 5, my family went through a very difficult time. My little brother was dying. My teacher, Mrs. D., knew what was going on and the effect it was having on me. Almost everyday, she would let me talk about what was going on. My world outside of the classroom was difficult and confusing, but she brought it into the classroom and helped me to understand what was going on. She comforted me and reassured me that my "outside world" really did matter. This is another reason I want to be a teacher. Like Mrs. D., I want to have a positive affect on my students' lives, not just in the classroom, but outside of it as well.
My love for children and their enthusiasm for life have really influenced my desire to become a teacher. I feel that children have so much to bring to this world but that often, they are not given that opportunity. I want my students to have the opportunity to impact their world. I believe that we, as adults, can learn so much from children.
With the world becoming more difficult and complicated, I want to give my students a safe place to learn. I want to have a classroom with zero tolerance for bullying and harassment. I want children to have the freedom to learn no matter what level they are at. I believe that this is the type of community that is needed in order for children to effectively learn. It is my hope that I can make a difference in each and every child's life.

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