Think About It

 

I won the Thaskala Award in 1992. Elmhurst College each year selects the most exemplary student teacher in elementary education and secondary education.

The selection is based on the recommendation of the cooperating teacher, the student teacher evaluator, and a committee.

The committe is made up of education students, faculty in the education department, and department of education administrators. They review the recommendations and they vote.

Think about it. The students on the committee were day students. The faculity on the committee were full time day professors. I was an evening student going part time being taught by part time adjunct professors.

I was the first evening student ever to win this award. The student teaching experience was amazing.

At the end of the semister I found out from one of the students who was on the Thaskala Award Committee, how it was that I was chosen.

Student teaching is an important responsibility that requires a lot of time and energy.  I resigned my position at Jewel Food Stores so that I would be able to go to school during the day. I took a class in how to teach science in the elementary school. I went and visited classes to earn the required clinical hours of observation. I also took an interim class that observed a fifth grade class in London, England.

When the committe met and my name was suggested, the students said I must be given this prestigious award without any further discussion. The students knew me and my teaching skills from the day science class I took and the time they spent with me in Great Britain.

End of story.