|
Transition: Martin’s graduation means new role in Callaway |
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 08 January 2009 |
 By MICHELLE ZLOMKE
Chief Managing Editor
CALLAWAY -- Callaway High School gains a new teacher as the semester begins, but she is a familiar face in their halls. Elissa Martin graduated from University of Nebraska at Kearney in December knowing she was virtually assured a job as Callaway’s secondary language arts teacher. Her student teaching experience this fall was in the same classroom.
School administrators first contacted Martin, a 2004 Broken Bow High School graduate, after the retirement of long-time teacher Cindy Jorgenson.
They hoped Martin would be interested in the position that opened with the fall 2008 semester.
However, Martin wasn’t scheduled to graduate until December 2008.
They had teachers who could fill the spot temporarily, and Martin took the opportunity to student teach in the school.
“It’s been nice because I had a pretty normal student teaching experience,” she said. “Well, as normal as it can be when the kids know you’re going to be there.”
In addition to her secondary teaching degree, Martin has an endorsement in elementary education. She also completed that student teaching experience at Callaway this fall.
“I went to college to be an elementary teacher,” she said. “But there was no shortage of teachers in elementary, whereas there’s always a shortage of language arts teachers in Nebraska and has been for a long time.”
Martin is the daughter of R.P. and Beth Smith of rural Broken Bow. She spent her elementary years at Round Hill School south of Broken Bow.
Martin said she has wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can recall.
“My dad says it’s since kindergarten, but I’m sure I was thinking of it before that.”
As a pre-teen, Martin was already looking ahead at career possibilities. She was 12 years older than her youngest sister, Hannah.
“I wanted to be done with school in time to be her sixth grade teacher,” Martin said. “When I was in sixth grade, that sounded really cool.”
The decision to instead study language arts education seemed natural to Martin, an avid reader and accomplished speaker.
“I chose English because I love it and I love reading,” she said. “But my real passion is for the kids. I do what’s best for the kids and what I do is about them. When they know you care about them, they care a whole lot more about English.” |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 January 2009 )
|
Huskers.com
