Education Archives - è��ͷ�� University

Heather Walker White ’02

è��ͷ�� University — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 23:28:18 +0000

GWU Executive Leadership Studies program ignites educator’s passion to serve

“The Master of Arts in Executive Leadership Studies program and professors have opened my eyes to see a clearer perspective of today’s educational leaders and their roles. This experience has ignited a flame of passion for my own future leadership positions. I have never been so proud of myself, my accomplishments, and my professional direction as I am because of this experience.”

While completing her Master of Arts in Executive Leadership Studies (MELS) from è��ͷ�� University, Heather Walker White was recognized as a leader by her school district and the South Carolina Department of Education. The Mooresboro, N.C., resident was chosen to serve on the state’s Performance Level Descriptor Committee for the End of Course assessment for English II.

White, a 2019 and 2002 GWU graduate, was recommended for the position by the Cherokee County (S.C.) School District. One of eight people asked to serve on the committee, White worked with other educators to develop performance levels to describe student mastery and command of English knowledge and skills in conjunction with the state’s college and career ready ELA Standards.

An English teacher at Gaffney (S.C.) High School, White obtained her degree in English and secondary education from GWU and has been teaching in Cherokee County for 17 years. “I have been offered so many wonderful opportunities to learn, grow, and share my passion for literature, writing, reading and communication with so many students,” she affirmed.

She believes her years in the classroom were beneficial to the learning process. “I had the opportunity to share professional experiences with my peers and professors, offer solutions to problems where experience proved critical, and explore various facets of education that I had yet to experience,” White observed. “The MELS program and professors have opened my eyes to see a clearer perspective of today’s educational leaders and their roles. This experience has ignited a flame of passion for my own future leadership positions. I have never been so proud of myself, my accomplishments, and my professional direction as I am because of this experience.”

In her high school classroom, White strives to intertwine the art of language, writing, reading and communication with open discussions. She tells students about her accomplishments, as well as her failures. “I share with my students the power of words,” White asserted. “I share with them what make us human. I thrive for ‘teachable moments,’ and without them my heart would break. Life’s experiences are the most definable source of education and sharing those only further endorses my professional quest to make a positive educational impact on today’s youth.”

She’s grateful to her GWU undergraduate and graduate professors who taught her that every student has the ability to accomplish greatness, but hard work, dedication, and commitment will make dreams a reality. “As an undergraduate student, I was amazed by the small classes and the direct attention provided by the professors,” White reflected. “My memories of è��ͷ�� and its professors are ones of hard work, dedication, integrity and ownership. I am the proud product of the teaching of Dr. Gayle Bolt Price (dean of the graduate school who passed away in 2016). She taught several of my undergraduate classes. She was my university supervisor when I began my clinical experience, and most of all, one of my greatest teaching inspirations. Dr. Price often said, ‘don’t give me good, give me your best’ and 17 years later, I’m giving my own children and students those same words.”

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Leslea Everett ’17

è��ͷ�� University — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 23:18:29 +0000

Alumna strives to be like the model educators who influenced her life

“The professors knew my name and were willing to help me when I was confused, stuck, or unsure of my own ability. Having small class sizes gave me the ability to ask questions and have them answered immediately.”

Leslea Everett ’17 aspires to be the kind of teacher like the ones she had throughout school. “I firmly believe that good teachers encourage students to love learning,” she affirmed. “I want to give students what I had growing up: great role models, someone who cares, and someone who believes in them.”

The Laurel Hill, N.C., native found that the professors at è��ͷ�� University had similar values. “They knew my name and were willing to help me when I was confused, stuck, or unsure of my own ability,” explained Everett, a fourth-grade science and social studies teacher in Hamlet, N.C. “Having small class sizes gave me the ability to ask questions and have them answered immediately.”

The professors discussed techniques and strategies and the program gives plenty of opportunities for practice. “Each class was well thought out and geared toward a specific aspect of teaching,” Everett reflected, “But nothing could have prepared me more than the clinical hours I spent each semester observing veteran teachers and having the opportunity to teach their students.”

During student teaching, her favorite moments were seeing the students get excited about learning. She described a time that stood out above the rest: “As we were learning about fractions, I created a scavenger hunt for students to uncover fractions in the real world,” Everett said. “Students were focused and on task throughout the class period and even went home and looked up more fractional facts to tell me the next day.”

The most memorable and influential professor in her educational journey was Dr. Jason Parker, associate dean of the college of education and assistant professor. “Dr. Parker pushed us to be the best teachers and people we could be,” Everett observed. “Every question posed to Dr. Parker was returned with a question. At first this drove me crazy, but I soon realized it was his way of letting me come to my own answer or opinion without him forcing his own thoughts on me. Dr. Parker consistently modeled excellent teaching.”

While professors like Parker contribute to è��ͷ��’s community atmosphere, the campus is a special place for many reasons, Everett affirmed. “What you will find at GWU is a place to call home,” she concluded. “When you leave you will miss the one stoplight in town. You will miss the close group of friends that you form and chicken tender Saturdays in the cafe. You will miss talking with your professors about life after class, or talking to Dr. Frank Bonner (GWU President) while in line for ice cream in the cafe. è��ͷ�� will not just be your school, it will become your home and every time you are away, you will miss it.”

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Amber Townsend Allen ’17

è��ͷ�� University — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 23:09:34 +0000

GWU Alumna receives teaching award in McDowell County, N.C.

“I have often been commended on my classroom management strategies as a first-year teacher, and I solely give credit to my student-teaching experience. GWU prepared me above and beyond what has been asked of me.”

Through student-teaching experiences and training activities, the è��ͷ�� University College of Education prepares graduates to create a dynamic classroom environment. In her first year of teaching, Amber Townsend Allen ’17 was able to apply these fundamentals and excel in her efforts. Allen was named the McDowell County (N.C.) Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year.

“Receiving the award is unreal,” described the resident of Spruce Pine, N.C. “Although I poured 150 percent of myself into the school year, I felt rather undeserving of this award. I know how amazing the other beginning teachers are and how hard they worked every day for students. I wish everyone could get this award. It is such an amazing honor. I’m not sure why God blesses me the way He does, but I will forever worship Him for the blessings.”

Allen has 17 students in her fourth-grade class at the county’s only year-round school, Eastfield Global Magnet School (EGMS) in Marion, N.C. She believes her success is the result of several factors. The first one being her GWU professors, who emphasized using technology in the classroom and also expected students to do extraordinary work. Dr. Kelly Clark and Dr. Jason Parker helped her gain confidence in her teaching ability. They taught her to ask questions that require students to analyze and evaluate information instead of recall facts.

Additionally, her cooperating teacher for student teaching, Robin Scoggins, was a superb role model. “She taught me how to keep the flow of my classroom moving,” Allen praised. “I have often been commended on my classroom management strategies as a first-year teacher, and I give credit to my student-teaching experience. GWU prepared me above and beyond what has been asked of me.”

Besides developing teaching techniques, Allen said the most important thing she’s learned is to show her students love. Her principal, Michelle Baker, is her inspiration. “She is the most amazing woman I have ever met,” Allen affirmed. “She pours her heart and soul into everything she does. The passion she brings to the teaching career is a great role model for me. Also, I can ask anyone at my school for help, and they respond instantly. I love my Eastfield family.”

An outgoing person, Allen was a cheerleader at GWU for four years and won the Miss GWU pageant in 2017. “I truly valued that GWU was not a huge university like other schools,” she assessed. “GWU truly has a family and community feel. I loved that at GWU we were able to openly talk about and worship God, anytime and anywhere. I grew much closer to God during my four years at college. I attended church regularly, and went to the student-led worship services.”

She decided to be a teacher at a young age, believing that God called her into the field of education. “I have always wanted to help and serve children in any way that I can,” Allen stated. “I have logged a ton of volunteer hours in child work, because I love them. Teaching is a ministry, and a call to serve others before yourself. God taught me how to be a good servant to my community in the career of teaching.”

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