Staff Spotlight: Student Teachers

In the Chehalis School District, we value teaching and learning. That's why we welcome college education majors into our buildings as student teachers, the final experience before they become certified teachers. This spring, we have eight student teachers in our midst - two in each of our buildings. While each of them has different areas of education in mind for their career goals, one thing they can all agree on is they're having a blast getting to teach ... and learn ... with Chehalis students and staff.

Nolan is a 2016 W.F. West Graduate from Chehalis studying K-8 Education at Centralia College. His spark for teaching started in high school after a mission trip to Nicaragua, where one of his favorite experiences was teaching Vacation Bible School.

Nolan started working in the Chehalis School District last year as an SLC (Specialized Learning Classroom) Paraeducator and said he often walked the halls thinking about which teachers he would enjoy having as a host teacher when his time came to be a student teacher. He said he was inspired by Mrs. Maddux's bright and cheery classroom and the way she interacts with her students.

"She brings such a lively attitude to teaching, which is something I want to bring to my own teaching style," he said.

Nolan's student teaching experience ends at the end of April. After graduation, Nolan's dream job would be to work with students in the K-2 grade levels. He said the biggest learning curve for his student teaching experience has been adjusting from the SLC classroom, which has about 10-15 students, to a standard sized classroom.

"It can be different but it's been rewarding and fun to get to know each of them as individuals," he said.

Megan is a Centralia High School graduate studying K-8 Education at Centralia College. Her passion for teaching started with her 1st-3rd grade teacher, Christine Chamberlain, who inspired her with the way she taught, but more importantly the way she treated her students.

She said she is grateful to her host teacher, Mrs. Chrisman, for welcoming her into her classroom. She said her mentorship has taught her so much and really helped her grow as a teacher.

"I feel like the challenge is getting to know the students, telling them apart and focusing on what they need to become the best students they can be and then meeting those needs," Megan said.

Megan's student teaching experience is over at the end of April. She said her dream job would be working with young elementary school students and for the Chehalis School District.

Chloe is a Centralia College student pursuing her Bachelor's degree in K-8 Education. A Napavine High School graduate, she went to grade school in Evaline. She said it was the unique, small school environment at Evaline that really motivated her to become a teacher. While student teaching, Chloe is also a track coach at Napavine High School.

"I love working with kids and I find a lot of joy and fulfillment out of getting to help them become productive members of society," she said.

Chloe actually got to do her practicum experience, a professional observation that occurs before student teaching, in Mr. Duncan's room, which means she has been with his class since September. She said she is grateful to Mr. Duncan for welcoming her into his classroom and going above and beyond to let her really stretch her teaching wings.

"He's given me the freedom to really make it my own space. He's been very flexible, even to the point of giving me his desk the first day, so the transition has been really smooth," Stewart said.

If Michelle looks familiar to you, that's because she's worked for the Chehalis School District since 2020. She started as a paraeducator substitute in 2020 and through that work, noticed that the district had a need for substitute teachers. She completed her Bachelor's degree in just 13 months through Western Governors University (their program is built to allow students to work at their own pace) in order to pursue a job as a substitute teacher in the Chehalis School District.

A W.F. West graduate, Viggue is mom to a W.F. West Senior, A W.F. West Junior and a Chehalis Middle School 7th Grader. She said her family moved to Chehalis to be in the Chehalis School District and she only aspires to substitute teach in the Chehalis School District.

A lot of Michelle's substitute paraeducator work has been at James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2) so she has known some of Mrs. Romines' 3rd graders since they were in kindergarten. She said what drew her to the idea of being a substitute teacher rather than a classroom teacher was that she loves having the ability to potentially connect with students on a deeper level and learn more about them during her short visits to their classrooms.

"Every day is a new journey as a substitute teacher," she said.

Jenny is a Mossyrock High School graduate studying Middle Level Science Education at Central Washington University. She said she has wanted to be a teacher as long as she can remember but it was a junior high teacher who encouraged her to consider teaching math or science.

Jenny has been student teaching for only about a week in Mr. Peone's class and is looking forward to the experience, which will last until June 7 and then she will graduate on June 8. She said student teaching in Mr. Peone's class has been a fun experience so far because she's really getting to see her classroom learning in action.

"It've learned so much from him. It's a lot of practical application of what we've learned," she said.

Ada is originally from Toledo and graduated from Napavine High School. She is pursuing a degree in Middle Level Math at Central Washington University. Teaching has been a long-time career goal for her.

"I've always loved school so why not come back to it," she said.

Ada's student teaching experience just started a week ago and will go until June 7, the day before her college graduation. Though she still has a long way to go, she said she is already seeing the benefits of working with Mrs. Isenhower in her math class.

"I've learned more in the last week from her than I think I've learned in the last two years," she said.

Because of his dad's job in the U.S. Navy, Josh moved around as a kid. He credits the many teachers he had over the years who helped him get acclimated and feel welcome in his new school communities with his desire to become a teacher himself.

"I had a lot of great teachers who were good influences on me and it made me want to do that for other kids," he said.

Josh worked as a football coach and paraeducator in Napavine before enrolling at Western Governors University to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Science Education. He will complete his student teaching experience at the end of April.

Josh said he is grateful to Mrs. Mora but also to a lot of the other STEM wing team such as Gena Dalan and Krista Wilks for answering all of his questions and helping him gain a great understanding of what being a teacher will be like.

"It has been awesome. (Mrs. Mora) really cares about her students and has shown me a lot of great ways to help them in all aspects of their student life," he said.

Faith is a 2020 W.F. West Graduate pursuing a degree in Secondary Education at Central Washington University. Her host teacher, Mr. Garbe, is actually the person who inspired her to become a teacher.

"He was a person who showed me that I want to help people because he was someone who helped me," she said.

Faith's student teaching experience will last until June and she said so far, she has loved getting to reconnect not only with Mr. Garbe but with many of the teachers who meant a lot to her during her high school years such as Gena Dalan, Trevor Mora and Emily Mora. Learning to see herself as a teacher, not as one of the students, in her old high school hallways, has taken some getting used to.

"I'm learning so step up into that role and use my teaching voice," she said.

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