"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan
Jennifer Scheller - Teaching and Leading Beyond Boundaries
Why Teaching?
Introduction
During the summer of 2013, I took a hard look at my life and asked, “am I where I want to be doing what I want to do?” The answer was no. After over 15 years of providing technical and scientific consulting support to EPA as a government contractor, I found myself spending less time doing science and more time worrying about profit margins and company reorganizations. It was time for a change and teaching seemed like the natural choice. My decision to swich careers was meet with skeptisim by more than a few family members, friends and colleagues. They did not understand why I wanted to move to a profession that many others are leaving. The answer is that I passionately believe that the teacher's mission is a vital one. I have a love of science that I want to share with my students. In the fall of 2013, I began the UMUC Master of Arts in Teaching program to begin the process of learning how to be an effective teacher.
My Portfolio
My name is Jennifer Scheller and I am currently pursuing my Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). My ultimate goal is to become a high school biology teacher that can inspire students’ curiosity and help guide them to reach their full potential. I have a Master of Science degree in Biology and over 17 years of experience in environmental consulting. By tapping into both my education and professional experiences, I hope to bring science to life for my students and push them to develop their critical thinking skills.
The journey to becoming an effective teacher has had both its challenges and its rewards. I realize that it may take many years for me to reach my goals. However, I think the journey for both teacher and students is more important than the final destination.
This portfolio is a demonstration of my journey to become a teacher dedicated to the achievement of all students. The work included in this portfolio reflects by my personal and professional experience as well as my science and teaching education. My portfolio is organized based on the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Model Core Teaching Standards. Examples of my work are included for each of the ten standards. This portfolio includes a discussion of how each example artifact meets the applicable InTASC standard and includes a reflection on my strengths and weaknesses related to the standard. The reflections include action items and goals to address my weaknesses and to continue to develop my teaching craft. It is only through the process of continual improvement that I can reach my ultimate goal of being a teacher that meets the needs of all my students.