Darcy Shoop  Education/Psychology, '06 Fairfield, CT Teacher

COLLEGE MAJOR
Upon entering Sacred Heart University I knew that I wanted to fulfill my long term goal of becoming a kindergarten teacher. Previous high school jobs as a camp counselor, tennis instructor, and babysitter gave me great exposure to working with children and helped me to choose this career path. Elementary education is not offered as a major so I decided to earn my Bachelor of Science in Psychology thinking coursework in this subject would also apply to teaching. While completing the undergraduate program I carefully selected education electives to work towards my certification. After earning my Bachelors degree I enrolled in Sacred Heart’s internship program. This allowed me to earn my initial teacher certification and Master of Arts in Teaching in one year.

JOB POSITIONS
My first position was during my internship at an elementary school in Westport Connecticut. I fulfilled my student teaching requirement in a second grade classroom in the fall. I learned a lot from my cooperating teacher since she had many great ideas, especially in classroom management. During the second half of the year I continued my internship which exposed me to all classroom settings grades K-5. I really wanted to teach kindergarten, but this experience helped me become more open and interested in teaching all elementary grade levels. I learned a tremendous amount during this year and would highly recommend the internship program as a valuable opportunity to gain experience and exposure to teaching. In the spring of my internship I began sending out applications to all districts in the area and attended many job fairs and interviews. I was fortunate to be offered a first grade position in Fairfield.

CURRENT POSITION
I was a first grade teacher for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years. This year I was asked to fill a kindergarten position in the same school. I enjoyed teaching first grade and got along well with the team that I worked with, but welcomed the new opportunity. This was a chance to teach kindergarten like I had always imagined myself doing. So far this year has been very fulfilling as I really enjoy working with this age group. 
 
TYPICAL WORK DAY
There is never a typical day in a kindergarten classroom! I love that in this profession everyday is new, exciting, and refreshing. A kindergarten teacher must be good at multi-tasking, willing to adjust to the needs of each child, and keep a good sense of humor throughout the day. It is essential to be very flexible and allow students the opportunity to learn and grow through social interactions with their peers. A kindergarten classroom is typically filled with noisy chatter while students engage in different learning activities simultaneously. This would not be the position for someone who needs quiet and rigid structure for their day to go well! You have to be prepared to be constantly on the go. I rarely sit down and often eat my lunch while preparing materials to be used in upcoming lessons. My day passes quickly because there is always so much to do. I stay after the children leave to lesson plan, organize, and prepare materials. 
 
POSITIVES
I enjoy working with each one of my students and am happy to be a part of creating an engaging learning environment, where students look forward to coming to school. I love being able to incorporate music, movement, and song into the curriculum as piano and singing have always been favorite pastimes for me. From a high five for a successfully tied shoe, to a glowing bright eyed smile from reading their first words, I get to share in all of these milestone moments with my students. The positive energy five year olds exude is contagious, and I can't help but to be in a good, energized, and happy mood all day!

CHALLENGES
Being able to reach and inspire each of my students on a daily basis can be challenging. You have to accept that all students are not going to immediately grasp a concept you are trying to teach. A lesson that went successfully one year might not have the same effect the next with different children. Teaching is like an experiment where you always have to change and adjust to different variables on a moment to moment basis. I also love the challenge of working with special needs students since they depend on you to think of inventive and creative strategies to help them learn best. You often have to do a lot of your own personal research to better understand a particular child’s learning disability so that you choose strategies that would be most beneficial. When I look at it this way overcoming these challenges ends up being one of the most rewarding and positive aspects of my career. Seeing confidence and pride build within a child with your guidance provides a great feeling of satisfaction and a sense that you are truly making a difference in their life. 
 
LIFESTYLE
My typical day is usually from 8:30-5:00 which leaves some spare time in the evening to do errands or go to the gym. Be prepared to also do work at home, because good lessons could require some extra preparation time. Knowing you are making a positive impact on a child’s life makes the extra time you put in well worth it. As far as vacation time, who wouldn't like having summers off! 
 
COLLEGE PREPARATION
The internship program was excellent as I was able to obtain my masters and certification in one year. Advisors help “map out your plan”- making sure you take courses to fulfill both Sacred Heart and state certification requirements. Make sure that you completely understand your plan of study and know which courses you need to avoid any frustrations that could arise from being short a few credits. A missed course could set you back months in obtaining your certification. .

CAREER ADVICE
Be ambitious by interning, volunteering or substituting in schools. Allow for people to see your passion for students and your willingness to jump right in and try new things. A highly motivated person who takes initiative and eagerly listens to advice and suggestions is respected by others. There is always something to do in an elementary school setting. Don’t feel as though you should wait for someone to ask you for help. You will become noticed as a good teacher candidate if you actively seek out opportunities to work directly with students, aiding them with assignments, mediating a social situation, etc. Show that you can multi task, manage stressful situations, and be flexible. Once you have a position quickly make friends with the faculty and become close with your team of teachers. It has been so beneficial to me to learn from experienced teachers. Their advice on lesson plans, management, etc. have helped me immensely.

SHU EXPERIENCE
I had a very positive experience at Sacred Heart. I made many great friends that I am still close with today. My professors were always very helpful and I left with a good base knowledge of the field. Small class sizes with classmates that were certified teachers working toward their masters allowed for great discussions. I found the service learning experiences that SHU required a great way to gain my first insight into working in a school setting. I would highly recommend SHU’s program as an excellent path towards your teacher certification!