Want to become part of NJSEA and take advantage of all the opportunities it has to offer like Jonathan did? Visit: http://njea.org/members/student-members to learn more and join!
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As the academic year begins, NJSEA ambassadors are in full swing thinking of ways to improve local chapters and how to be more involved at the state level. See what ambassadors around the state are hoping to accomplish this year.As a first year ambassador, I hope to learn as much as I can and use my developing leadership skills to make a difference in both my local chapter at Montclair State University and at the state level. I am excited to learn more about the education profession and grow professionally alongside peers that are just as passionate as I am. – Jonathan Feig, Montclair State University My goal is to give Rowan’s chapter of NJSEA a greater presence on campus and the local community through community service and self-advocacy. Having a stronger presence in the campus and surrounding community will help our chapter and the overall NJSEA organization grow. – Deanna Kollar, Rowan University As social media chair, my goal for this year is to engage members on a state level and connect with members from all over the state through our social media outlets. I also plan to aid in increasing membership in New Jersey by showing pre-service educators the importance of letting our voice be heard on a state and national level. – Mariah Belber, The College of New Jersey My hope for this year is to increase member involvement at both the local and state level. There are so many opportunities for our members, and I hope to see the pre-service educators taking advantage of these opportunities by attending events and making our presence well known. As a leader in this organization, my goal is to make sure our pre-service members know all that is offered to them. From making them aware of benefits and opportunities they have access to, such as professional development offered to full-time members and political advocacy events, to being an approachable and knowledgeable leader, I plan to spread information about all our organization provides. – Courtney Earnest, Rider University As President of the NJSEA chapter at Montclair State University, I plan to hold professional development events on campus that focus on topics regarding to individualized instruction, institutionalized racism, and integrating technology within the curriculum. Institutionalized racism is a topic that was recently brought up in the NEA-SP SLC, and it stuck with a lot of NJSEA members that attended the trip. It’s a topic that sometimes gets overlooked, and I hope to bring it to light on my campus. Within my role as Local Outreach Chair at the state level, I aspire to act as a source of support for the NJSEA members, especially the new faces in our organization, that are in the initial phases of aiding the establishment a chapter or collaborating with already founded chapters to increase their engagement. I hope to be an informative resource for current members and perspective members in these endeavors. – Lian Refol, Montclair State University
I am looking forward to seeing our membership grow at Montclair State University as we become more involved with our campus community. I plan on being as active as possible on my campus to help achieve this. I think the knowledge I gain from being Political Action Chair and having other chairs and ambassadors at the state level in our local organization will aid in Montclair becoming a stronger chapter. By doing this we can spread the word about getting out the vote and speak up about the #STOPedTPA campaign. Furthermore, NJSEA at MSU will be will be very active in volunteer service projects and giving back to the local communities. – Danielle Curry, Montclair State University NJSEA has pushed for creating new and maintaining old chapters at colleges and universities across New Jersey. My goal is to aid in creating some of the new chapters across the state so more preservice educators can learn and grow through the opportunities NJSEA provides, such as the professional development that’s typically offered to full-time members. My local chapter is Montclair State University, and my goal for my chapter is to increase membership and host events that members across New Jersey can attend to create a feeling of unity and community. We have a very strong leadership group at Montclair, and I know through everyone’s participation we will be able to achieve other leader’s goals and my own. – Allison Plishka, Montclair State University The NJSEA chapter at Seton Hall is relatively new, so one of my main goals I want to accomplish this year is increasing our membership and become a more well-known and prominent organization on campus. It is more than just a school club. It’s a nationally recognized organization that helps preservice educators grow and develop professionally in so many ways. I want to be able to say I am an ambassador and chapter member of NJSEA and have people automatically know that I am part of a group of dedicated pre-service educators. – Cassidy Burns, Seton Hall University Being elected to the Resolutions Committee means a great deal to me as a future educator and current leader. In our country, educators are facing many difficult decisions and political challenges, and I look forward to making changes and being part of various solutions to advance the profession. As part of the National Education Association (NEA) Resolutions Committee, I plan to represent the ideas, beliefs, and values of all members of our association to the absolute best of my ability. For me, it is imperative that I not only lead and inspire our members but also defend our philosophies, opinions, and principles. Through this position, I hope to expand my knowledge in regards to the political climate of education, exercise my leadership skills, and learn how I can further utilize those leadership skills. I believe that this position will allow me to improve myself as an educator for my future students, and I hope to share my knowledge with my friends and colleagues that will be/are educators. To do this, a major goal I have is to bring the information I gather back to my organization, the New Jersey Preservice Education Association (NJSEA), and use it to assist NJSEA to rise strong. Prior to being elected for the NEA Resolutions Committee, the process has been a challenging but exciting one, and I could not have accomplished my goal of receiving this position without the overwhelming support from friends, family, NJSEA, and my dedicated campaign observer, Mariah Belber. My gratitude towards all those who have supported my journey is truly inexpressible, but I want to extend my deepest appreciation to everyone that has been involved. I am really grateful for all of you that have been part of this experience with me. My gratitude towards all those who have supported my journey is truly inexpressible, but I want to extend my deepest appreciation to everyone that has been involved. I am wholly grateful for all of you that have been part of this experience with me. While I had an exhilarating time working on the campaign with friends, colleagues, and family, there were obstacles that arose along the way. The most challenging aspect of the campaign process for the NEA Resolutions Committee was preparing a speech for a large audience at the NEA Student Program Leadership Conference. I wanted certainty that I was addressing all the most vital aspects of my campaign and perfect my public speaking, making sure not to trip over words in front of a large audience. It was an opportunity that aided in my growth as a leader. After all of the difficulties and the high points of the process and getting through the speech, I feel more confident in accepting this role and look forward to working with current and future leaders. Anthony Elia, The College of New Jersey NJSEA State Secretary The NEA Summer Leadership Conference (SLC) broadened my knowledge as a preservice teacher through the expanse of informational sessions, networking opportunities, and community building activities. It opened my mind to countless possibilities that are available to me as a future educator. When I think back to my days spent in Washington, D.C., there are countless memories and lessons I could write about, but on the second day, one breakout session made an immense impact on me. It was titled “Engaging Members in a Brave New World.” It started with a question. Before I begin, I want you to contemplate on how you would answer this question. Take a few minutes to think about how it has applied to your life – past, present, and future. This is the question that was asked of me that I am now asking you: How will you fit in? So, how will you fit in? How will each of us as teachers fit into the educational profession? When I think of what it meant to fit in, it brought me back to high school. My hometown did not have a high school, which forced me to attend high school in a new town – meaning time to make new friends. I felt that I had to hide who I really was and I had to conform to the standards in this new high school. This is something numerous students face if they are forced into a new environment, and the experience is one that holds various outcomes – good and bad – for different people. But why did the presenters ask this of the preservice teachers? It may be that this question pertains to a past that I wish not to revisit, but to others, they may have reflected on it a different way. Regardless, thinking back to this time when I struggled to fit in made me question, as teachers, don’t we want our students to be themselves? “Fitting in” shouldn’t revolve around conforming to the norms. No student is the exact same, and we shouldn’t expect them to be. Every student has their own needs that educators need to meet and protect. This applies to teachers, as well; teachers should be themselves when they teach and teach how they want, and the NJSEA and NJEA association helps educators realize their values by exposing them to dissimilar perspectives from their own. So, after reflecting on the session, I decided to extend the original question. Once again I ask you to answer another question, and it’s slightly different – not better, just different, like how all the students in our classes and future classes are diverse. The concept that no one is the same is something that the NEA SLC instilled in our brains, and it is something that the human race should try to grasp in the light of tragic events because our differences should not segregate us – they should unite us. By asking a new question, I’m not saying the presenters were wrong to ask their original question. I just would’ve asked it differently. And with that, my question is: How will you fit into the teaching profession while still being your true self? My question adds words that I felt were omitted from the first question. After reflecting on this question, I related it to one of my favorite Bible quotes. Please keep in mind, I’m not imposing any beliefs on anyone, but, for me, this quote answers this questions perfectly. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of mind.” As educators, we shouldn’t conform to the ordinary or the ever-present standardization. We shouldn’t just teach and grade and enjoy summers out of the classroom. Instead, we should continuously be finding ways to change and improve the teaching profession by being ourselves. Being leaders in the profession is the paramount way to give students the best education they deserve, but if we are ordinary, then nothing will ever change. There is a word being omitted from ordinary. Instead of being ordinary, seek to be extraordinary. To do that: Rise Strong and Dare Greatly.
- Rebecca Takacs, Fairleigh Dickinson University What are your thoughts on the questions posed in this post? There are no words that can adequately describe the well of emotions the moment I first stepped into the largest business meeting in the country. Seeing almost 10,000 preservice, active, and retired members gathered in Washington, D.C., was incredibly humbling, and being the President of NJSEA gave me the opportunity to contribute my voice, which was overwhelming and unforgettable. Thinking back to that moment, I remember it started like a party – beach balls being bounced around and music playing. However, we quickly got down to business, and shortly “aye” and “no” filled the room as we persisted through Standing Rules, New Business Items, Amendments, and more. We were also honored to host Hillary Clinton, and spirits were high that day. A massive crowd of supporters came in their “Educators for Hillary” shirts and cheered as they waved signs and banged thunder sticks in anticipation of her arrival. It was quite a spectacle to see a sea of blue banners. The moment that was the most exciting for me, personally, happened on the last day of the RA. We were faced with what seemed like more business than we had completed in the previous three days. At the morning caucus, we were discussing New Business Items, and before I knew it, shockingly, an item had been opposed that positively affected the preservice program. I took it upon myself to question the rationale, and, with the help of the leadership team, we were able to reconsider the vote. I saw this as a major victory for our members, and it showed the power of the preservice voice. It seemed to truly change active members’ perception of us as pre-service members in the union and as voices at the RA. I am so grateful to New Jersey and to all of our preservice members for giving me the opportunity I had at the NEA-RA. It is truly something I will never forget, especially one so early on as my time as President. I cannot wait to see the changes and impact this year’s NJSEA leadership team will accomplish. - Ellen Bacon, Seton Hall University “At this year’s NEA SLC in Washington D.C., I attended Keynote Speaker David Johns’ presentation ‘The White House’s Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.’ He discussed institutional racism in various schools and states, and it was truly eye opening for me. Oftentimes you do not realize that institutional racism is occurring in your schools, but hearing the perspective – the perspective of someone on the outside looking in – makes you realize this has, in fact, been happening all along. It is up to future teachers to help make a difference and make a real change.” – Morgan Ivich, Seton Hall University “While at the NEA SLC in Washington D.C., I came across the following quote: We are not in it for the income. We are in it for the outcome. This quote, to me, describes what it means to join the teaching career, as we care immensely about our students and want to help them grow, and it also unites us – preservice and current teachers – as a unique force to be reckoned with. It encourages all members to join together because together we can achieve our goal of enlightening, inspiring, and teaching our students.” – Jennifer Fagan, Rowan University “This was my third Summer Leadership Conference with NJSEA, and it was one of the most powerful conferences I have been able to attend. David Johns’s keynote presentation about institutional racism sparked meaningful conversation about inclusion and the need for teachers to recognize their own biases that they bring into the classroom. It initiated interactions and critical conversations between preservice and full-time members. In the future, I plan to work in an urban district, so the conversations I was able to take part in from this presentation were thought-provoking and powerful, and I plan to apply what I learned from this experience into a classroom of my own next year. At the SLC, each and every NJSEA will learn something important that they can apply in their pedagogy, and I encourage members to take advantage of this opportunity.” – Melany Reyes, Fairleigh Dickinson University “Being a chair and ambassador with NJSEA led to me becoming an NEA fellow, and being a fellow has led to so many opportunities that I would have never imagined. At this year’s SLC, I presented on my organizing fellowship for membership. Both NJSEA and NEA have taught me to take every opportunity that comes my way. Don’t be afraid to dream big, and you should never underestimate yourself and the power you have as a preservice educator.” – Samantha Selikoff, The College of New Jersey “SLC this year taught me a lot about what it means to be a leader. Leadership is not about being a great public speaker or being the person in charge that tells everyone what to do. Being a leader means putting the needs of others at the forefront and standing up for those who do not have a voice. It means speaking up in difficult situations when unjust actions are taking place and being a role model for those around you. Some do not think they can be leaders or simply do not try to step out of their comfort zone to be one, but for those that do – they have the ability to rise strong and make a difference and be the change.” – Cassidy Burns, Seton Hall University “This was my first time attending SLC and the Legacy Project, and it was remarkable. The experiences I had working collaboratively with preservice members from across the nation was invaluable. I gained many new perspectives to take with me through my educational career and future teaching. I hope to have more experiences through NJSEA like this one, and I would highly recommend it to other education majors out there.” – Ally Pruchnik, Stockton University “At the SLC, there was a large social media presence and discussion about social media. Through this experience, I learned that while social media can be great for discussion, spreading ideas, and earning Professional Development, as educators we must always remember there is a fine line between our personal and professional life when it comes to social media. No post is worth losing your career.” – Nicole Breccia, The College of New Jersey “This was my first time attending the NEA-SP SLC, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk to numerous educators from varying backgrounds and experiences. Washington, D.C., was a fitting place for this conference as we all demonstrated our own leadership skills in the home of leadership itself, and it was especially powerful as the approaching presidential election is mere months away. There were various informational breakout sessions I attended that contained important knowledge for my future career, but the nightly monument walks were just as invaluable for me. I was one of the youngest and newest members at the SLC, and these walks helped me make priceless connections with members of the NJSEA group. I will never forget running through the pouring rain and crowding under a statue with not only NJSEA delegates but also Illinois delegates. From volunteering (and dancing) at the Legacy Project to witnessing the democratic process of the Representative Assembly in five runoff elections, I have learned an enormous amount about leadership that will stick with me through my educational career and future teaching. Every person matters – that is precisely what this conference has taught me about what it means to be in the field of public education.” – Kelly Donnelly, Rutgers University “As a member of the NJSEA Delegation that attended the NEA-SLC in Washington, D.C., I was given the opportunity to actively participate in a conversation that addressed the ongoing issues of institutionalized racism within our schools across the United States. During this session, aspiring and current educators joined together to share their personal experiences of racial injustice, give insight on how to honor the diverse backgrounds of our students, and empower each other to help demonstrate anti-racist values. Through this event, I realized the great amount of courage that is necessary for teachers to advocate for student equality and combat institutional racism. It is an extraordinary responsibility that educators have to instill values of love and acceptance within students to help make this world a better, brighter, and safer place.” – Lian Refol, Montclair State University
“At the SLC, I had the chance to meet preservice educators from across the country, and it was truly awe-inspiring to be around so many people that are experiencing the same journey I am going through. I was able to make connections and now feel I have a strong group I can lean on for support. Exploring D.C. with new friends helped bring a sense of unity to the group, and we were able to learn more about our nation’s history, which will aid in us creating a better future for education as we can include real world issues and history into our classroom discussions.” – Allison Plishka, Montclair State University Were you at SLC? What were you experiences and takeaways?
Technology is constantly advancing, and our students use technology at younger ages than some of us as preservice educators ever have. I remember getting my first cell phone – a prepaid, flip-phone – in seventh grade. It. Was. Awesome. But now students are coming in to fourth grade with the latest iPhone model. So what can we do to keep up with and include technology in the classroom, and what technology is open to us as educators?
When I student taught at Robbinsville High School, I was fortunate enough to have technology available. As the school tried to transition into a reading/writing workshop format for English, I tried to include technology into our daily activities. The typical day began by teaching students grammar skills through PowerPoint, a Microsoft program most teachers are familiar with. After this activity, they had time to free write, and I would play music softly in the background as they wrote. Mostly, the music was instrumental only, as lyrics could easily distract some students; however, during the holidays, the students begged for Christmas tunes. I used Pandora for this because my cooperating teacher had a paid account, which meant no pesky commercials, but YouTube and Spotify (free or paid versions) are also options. A resource I frequently made use of was Prezi. Other than the warm-up grammar lessons, all of my presentations were formed on Prezi, and the students seemed to be more engaged the more I customized. Prezi does take slightly longer to set up than a PowerPoint, but the results can be much more engaging. I found it easier to drop in videos, pictures, and links. My cooperating teacher and I tried having the students use Prezi for a book club group project, which garnered mixed results. Some students found the process easy if they used the program before, but students that were new to Prezi often became confused and sometimes frustrated. This program is definitely one that requires time for trial and error.
Technology can be great when utilized in the right way at the right times. Here is a list of more applications I used while student teaching:
Some of us are lucky enough to have technology at our fingertips – from SMART boards to 1-1 Chrome Books or iPads. Others are not that fortunate. We have to work with what we are given, true, but never give up on finding ways to access technology and bring it into the classroom. Students will appreciate your effort and technology knowledge.
As technology grows, we have to take a part in making sure our students leave school knowing how to be a part of the 21st century, which means they need to know how to navigate technology – even if they don’t or can’t access it at home – because most professions require these skills. If we are comfortable using technology and troubleshooting, our students can learn to do the same.
- Chelsea Hahn, The College of New Jersey To learn more about my student teaching experience, visit: http://clhahn330.wix.com/chelshahn-eportfolio What experiences or lack of have you had with technology in your own teaching career? What technology did you use? What worked and what didn’t? Share your thoughts! |
New Jersey Preservice Education Association (NJSEA)As the preservice branch of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), we aspire to empower, excite, and inspire all future educators about their upcoming teaching careers in public education. WebsiteSocial Media
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June 2017
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