My undergraduate school's motto is, "life-changing, world-changing." As a first-generation college student from rural Oxford, Maine, this is how I would describe the effect that my education has had on me. However, throughout that time, I have also seen the reality that the U.S public school system is in need of some TLC. I want to be a part of that TLC by working towards implementing policies that would better our public education system in Maine. 

 

During a conversation with a respected Maine State Senator from Handcock County, he told me that, "In order to make good public policy for education, I have to be in the classroom first." I realized he was completely right, and I decided to get certified to teach secondary social studies. 

 

In addition to becoming certified to teach, I have found a passion for policy and community building. I have taken Community Development and Collaborative Leadership classes, both of which focused on building skills to lead from within your group as a facilitator. These classes have allowed me to build the tools for a human ecological way of community building. I bring those skills of community building and facilitation into my teaching practice.  

 

I would love to work in a school that is in a rural area. I can't help but see potential in these students that many turns away from. I want to help prepare them for their journies through life after high school on any track they choose. How I want to make a difference in my students' lives is by being more than just a teacher, but a resource of resources and a provider of support. 

​