Student Biographies
Current UTEP Interns: Cohort IV
Emmi Blum is a graduate of the College majoring in Spanish Literature. When she looks into the future, she sees herself as a math or Spanish teacher and possibly as a math teacher in a Spanish-speaking classroom. She was drawn to UTEP because of its well-rounded approach to teacher education. She is currently interning in a third grade classroom at Zapata Elementary School.
Ashley Garrisonwas a biology major in the college. Because she is being exposed to such an array of grades in the UTEP program, she is still unsure about which grade she will teach. However, she has leaned towards older grades in thepast, and still has an interest in older students. Before applying to UTEP, she was unsure as to which type of teaching program she would enter after graduation. However, after much research, she decided that UTEP was the best choice for her. This, she says, “is because of the amazing involvement of the directors in our lives. It has been made clear that they will continuously be with us and guide us as we become phenomenal educational leaders!” Ashley is interning in a second grade classroom at NKO with Keri Mendez.
Janet Granadosgrew up in Chicago and graduated from the University of Chicago with a BA in English Literature and aminor in Spanish Language and Literature. She was adamant about working with upper grade kids when she entered the program but has found, through the tutoring strand, that she enjoys work with her second grader the most. She has yet to decide what grade she’d like to teach. In her free time she loves to read anything she can get her hands on and volunteers with Rape Victim Advocates (RVA). Janet is interning in a kindergarten classroom at Carson Elementary School.
Briana Nichols completed her studies at U of C as anthropology major.She would love to teach 5th-8thgraders, and feels a strong connection with this age group. Her application to UTEP derived from a desire to leave the realm of theoretical academia and enter a practice through which she could reaffirm her strong ideological beliefs surrounding social justice. Her current tutoring students keep challenged on a weekly basis, allowing her to grow, learn,and laugh with them. Briana is a huge fan of classroom pets, especially ones with scales or shells. She is an intern in a 5th-6th grade classroom at Whittier Elementary.
Sara Rezvidecided to join UTEP because she is primarily interested in fostering a love for mathematics at an earlier age rather than later on. She believes confusion starts occurring during the middle school years, and that her efforts would be best concentrated there. Her favorite strand last year was definitely soul strand because, “it helped her examine her deepest personal motivations and beliefs about teaching and ourselves”. She also really likes pandas. She is currently interning at NKO in 4th grade with Toi Smith and Maura Burke.
John Saxtonwas an English Literature major. Teaching has appealed to him for several reasons. Most recently for the Ryan Gosling aesthetic put forth in Half Nelson of button-downshort-sleeve vintage-cuff shirts and ties (he’s deeply into ties) and historically for summers and therein the opportunity to cultivate his two other complementary career paths,journalism (The Nation is his Bible), and an ice cream shop (coming soon to 1620 E. 53rd, a lovely corner spot with lots of windows) but in seriousness because he like kids and kids like him and there is not a more worthwhile cause. He’d like to teach 6-8 grades. He is currently an intern at Carnegie elementary in a 6th grade classroom and coaches their flag football team.
Emily Sayeris thankful that the dreadfulness of the MCAT prep led her to scribble pictures and notes of herself teaching in the margins of her text booklets. She somehow managed to write all of her practice essay on something related to education, and that point, she knew that teaching would not simply supplement her “real” careers as a doctor. She loves children for their bluntness and honestly, their creativity and imagination, their obsessions and frustrations. According to the kindergartners she used to work with at Murray, she’s brown, it’s cool that she bikes, she is terrible at identifying lunch food, and there must be something very wrong with her because she does not have a husband. She’s thinking about teaching 4th grade. She is currently interning in a 2nd grade classroom at Zapata.
Catherine Schoenfeld majored in American History. She hopes to teach first grade. She has always wanted to teach in an urban setting and she chose UTEP because she thought that it would provide her with the most thorough preparation. Her favorite part of the program has been the fieldwork strand because she has gotten a chance to see several schools that are very different than the ones she attended. She is an intern in a kindergarten room at Bret Harte.
Jason Sitko majored in political science at U of C and focused on minority politics in the United States. Understanding the systemic racism that shapes public education in this country has given him invaluable insight into the many obstacles his students and he will face in preparing them to succeed in school. He’d like to teach 5-8 grade students because they are right on the cusp of adolescence and can be pulled in several different directions. He’d like not only to teach them to solve basic algebraic equations but also to be confident in the choices they make outside the classroom. He feels that UTEP has given him the opportunity to completely immerse himself in teaching; to think about, discuss, and practice teaching. The purposefulness of the work is a comfort in his life. He is an intern in a second grade classroom at NKO.
Lloyd Wafer entered UTEP as a graduate student. He completed his undergraduate studies at U of C with a degree in political science. While he’s not sure exactly what he wants to teach,he’s leaning more towards reading, in or around grade 4 or 5. There's a large spot in his heart for children's literature and it's very exciting to think about being able to teaching some of his favorite books. He enjoys basketball in all of its forms and likes to relax by playing video games, reading comic books, and watching movies. He is also working on a screenplay, which consumes a lot of his time and thoughts. He is currently interning at Barton School in a 6th grade classroom.
Bob Welchis an English major. He’s interested in starting out his teaching career at the 5-7th grade level. He was originally interested in UTEP because of its great acronym, which people confuse with the University of Texas-El Paso all the time. Consequently, he thinks we should call ourselves the Miners. Seriously, he really can't wait to get started teaching. He is an intern in a 2nd grade classroom at Barton.
Stacy Youngstudied music at the U of C. Upon completing UTEP, she looks forward to settlinginto a fantastic fourth grade classroom somewhere in her hometown of Chicago. Stacy thanks the amazing students at the Camp of Dreams for engendering a deep love of teaching in her,summer after wonderful summer, and Eric Davis of Educational Endeavors for giving her the chance to discover a dream. She is currently interning in a 3rd grade classroom at Barton.
Current UTEP Candidates: Cohort V
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Jordan Berry
Hello! My name is Jordan Berry. I am currently interning at Ruggles Middle School in a 7th grade classroom. I love it and would say to anyone interested in teaching middle school: Go For It! In college I studied philosophy and political science, and in between college and graduate school, I taught English conversation in South Korea for one year at an all girls public middle school. I was drawn to enter UTEP, among other teacher education programs, because it focuses on urban education, and from what I can tell, teaching, and not just teachers. I must say, not all teacher ed. programs give this impression! Right now, I think I would like to pursue the middle school endorsement and teach at that level, but I am open to teaching at the elementary level, especially the higher grades (I really liked working with 4th and 5th graders this summer).
Shula Bien
I currently student teach in a 6th grade class on the SW side. I graduated from the University of Chicago the first time around with a B.A. in Latin American Studies. I became interested in teaching during my four undergraduate years, as I worked as a tutor in three local schools: Jackie Robinson (6th grade), Price (6th grade), and Carnegie (7th/8th grade). Besides these jobs, I have had some international experiences in education in Ghana and Bolivia. I am excited to have found a group of people who share my commitment to justice and positive work in problematic education systems.
Samantha Coulter
Now, I am a graduate student with a full UTEP year under my belt. This past summer I was at Donoghue Charter School working with rising 3rd graders. Currently, I am at Barton Elementary working with 6th graders. This experience has confirmed the thought that I had last year about preferring to work with older students. I love Middle School!
Nate Durning
In 2006, I graduated with a degree in Economics from Lafayette College. I was a Big Brother for three years as well as the volunteer coordinator for a tutoring and mentoring program with kids living in public housing. For five summers I was a counselor at a day camp for kindergartners through third graders. I am student teaching in a kindergarten classroom at Rachel Carson in Gage Park. I hope to teach in primary education.
Alex DeWitt
I’m Alex DeWitt, hoping to teach next year in a fifth through eigth grade classroom- self contained or departmentalized math. I began college at the University of Michigan as a Math major and graduated in 08' from the University of Chicago with a degree in Philosophy, a field where I used my math but also studied issues about society and ethics. My UTEP work has deepened my theoretical knowledge in math and philosophy, especially social justice, but provided incredible practical experiences that make the issues relevant. I look forward to continuing my explorations of math and philosophy in the classroom.
Abbi Eichhorn
In June 2008, I graduated with a bachelors in Latin American Studies. During my 4 years in school, I worked at the Ancona School in two Spanish classrooms. Besides working as a teaching assistant, I worked as a camp counselor for CYC. That experience sparked my interest in Urban education. I'm currently teaching at Zapata Academy in 3rd grade. My grade level interest is 3rd-5th grade. Finally, my advice to anyone interested in UTEP is get a digital camera!
Claire Elderkin
I graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Public Policy. During the Summer of 08', I worked in Keri Mendez's class at North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School (NKO) with rising 2nd graders. I am currently interning in Shannon Justice's 3rd grade classroom, also at NKO. I plan to work in a mid-south side school with 2nd or 3rd graders after graduating from UTEP. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and following politics.
Deena P. Heller
I am currently placed in 4th and 5th grade Math and Science classrooms at Barton Elementary School. Everyday, is an amazing whirl of magnifying glasses and numbers. My main "kid" background comes from directing plays and teaching improv comedy to kids in summer camps and after school programs. UTEP seemed like the perfect way to do something useful that I enjoy in a supportive, academic (but pointed towards practice and not only theory!) environment. I am interested in teaching somewhere around or between grades 2 and 5, and I dream of waking up early enough to bike to school.
Megan Dang
Hi. My name is Megan (Meg) Dang and I am a graduate student. I graduated from the University in 2007 with a BA in Psychology. When looking for a job during my fourth year, I decided to look into teaching jobs. One of my friends who is currently working as a teacher in New York told me that U of C has an teaching program. I looked into it, found UTEP and have loved it eversince. I currently work as an intern in a second grade classroom with Loretta Edwards at Barton. Also, I love to play soccer, so I am looking forward to setting up a soccer program or coach at the school I finally end up at.
Tony Letourneau
"Mr. Tony, I thought you were bald, but you're growing hair". 'Well Kyle, that happens when you don't cut your hair'. "Oh, it's growing, but not so much right there". Why I have decided to teach 5 to 7 year olds.
Joanna McConnell
I am a second-year UTEPer who graduated from the University of Chicago in 2008 with a degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. I currently student teach 6th grade at Sawyer School with Rosaly Tam. Middle-schools fascinate me, with their nascent identity struggles and their willingness to take on new responsibility for their educations... I can't wait for the day when I get my own junior high classroom and the chance to design a curriculum with significance.
Sarah Orlowski
I completed my B.A. in Spanish and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2006. During my undergrad years, I privately tutored young children in Spanish, volunteered for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, and am currently working part-time at a preschool. I became immediately interested in UTEP due to its unique focus on urban education, something in which I have a great interest, and have always wanted to be a part of. I see myself teaching K, 1, or 2, and would also like to use my Spanish in some way whether that be incorporating it into the lesson plans, or creating an after-school program. I am currently interning in a 2nd grade classroom at Clara Barton. In my free time I enjoy watching Badger football games, sipping non-caffeinated tea, and reading quality children's literature all at the same time...because teachers need to multi-task.
Tracey Pendley
Hi everyone! My name is Tracey Nance Pendley and I am entering UTEP as a graduate student. I graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC in 2006 with a B.A. in Sociology and Religion. After graduating, I left the South for Chicago where I started U of C’s doctoral program for Sociology. I learned a great deal last year in the Sociology program, but more so than anything, I discovered that sociological theory is simply not enough for me at this point in my life. I missed the inner-city children that I worked with during my four years at Furman, and realized it was with these kids that my heart belonged and my aspirations lay. This group of kids (ages 6-14) was part of a program called “The Clubhouse Gang.” I met with them twice a week (and lived in their neighborhood one summer) in order to build relationships and help the kids with their homework. After my freshman year, I became the director and soon developed a strong sense of the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards associated with teaching and working with urban children. Within a few days of making the definitive decision to leave the Sociology program this past spring in order to pursue teaching, I discovered UTEP via an online web search for teaching opportunities in Chicago- and the rest is (or soon will be) history. Ultimately, I see myself teaching middle school in Chicago or Atlanta. However, I want to be well equipped with the literacy and classroom management tools that I will most definitely need to work with this group, and so I may begin working with younger grades, such as third or fourth. I am so excited about the upcoming year and getting to know everyone, it is going to be great!
Louisa Shannon
I am currently working in 4th grade at North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School. This past June I graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Public Policy Studies. My parents’ and extended family’s experiences as CPS teachers opened my eyes to the potentially daunting challenges and invaluable rewards of being an urban educator. I was drawn to UTEP’s commitment to prepare educators for the unique challenges of urban teaching through academic coursework, as well as clinical practice. Although I am leaning towards teaching in the intermediate grades in a South side Chicago Community, I am comfortable working with children in all elementary grades.
Amelia Valdez
My name is Amelia Valdez. I’m a graduate of the University of Chicago with a degree in philosophy. I was the co-director of operations for the Teen Connections Center in Pilsen in 2004 and the office manager at STRIVE Tutoring in 2005. I taught musical theater at the Merit School of Music in 2006 and taught theater to over 400 children with Jewish Community Centers’ Day Camp. This past Summer, I worked with rising 3rd graders at Donoghue Elementary School. Now, I'm working with 4th graders at Zapata Elementary in Little Village. Teaching children to write is a privilege and a joy. I live in Bridgeport, grew up in Texas and have a wonderful dog, Herman.
Aaron Webman
I graduated from the University of Chicago in 2008 with a BA in Public Policy, specializing in Education Policy. I’ve tutored in a couple of local programs in the past (The Woodlawn After School Kids Program and Chicago Youth Programs). After 1st year I worked in education programming at a community development corporation in Newark, NJ and took over a summer school class there when a teacher quit. As a 4th year, I worked at USI developing a college access program, among other things. I was originally introduced to UTEP by Linda Wing, but made the decision to apply after a few months of witnessing the care, attention and hard work the UTEP faculty put into the program. I am student teaching in 6-8th grade Literacy and Language Arts classes at Pershing West.
Alexa Webster-Clark
My name is Alexa Webster-Clark, and I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago. At the University I worked with NSP, Absolute Value Math Camp, and the Woodlawn After School Program. I also have worked at a variety of child-care and tutoring jobs. I heard about UTEP from NSP; I had thought about teaching before and was very excited about the existence of a program where I could become certified to teach, get a lot of practical experience and feedback, and be learning everything at a level that is intellectually challenging. I am currently interested in a wide range of grades: 2nd - 5th. I am working with 5th graders at Donoghue right now. I am especially excited about teaching Math.