About Shannon Govern
Job Skills
After researching various career planning websites, I assessed what transferable job skills I have acquired. Some include art related skills and attention to visual detail, leadership, evaluation, multitasking, writing, time management, and computer related skills. As I continue my education and have more job/field experience I will improve these skills and develop new ones that can be used in my future teaching career. Once I am a teacher I will be able to do research and plan a lesson, be able to evaluate my students' work as well as my own teaching methods, collaborate with colleagues, and present information in a way for all students to understand.
Future Plans
I plan on attending Hiram College for four years and getting my Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. After completing my student teaching and passing the Praxis II exam, I will get my Early Childhood License and be certified to teach Pre-K through third grade. After graduating from Hiram, I hope to find a teaching job preferably in Ohio or out of state if I can find an open position at an elementary school. When I have a steady teaching job, I will go on to further my education and get my Master's Degree in education. I may eventually look into becoming an elementary school administrator which requires further education and training.
Past Experience
While at Twinsburg High School during my senior year I attended the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center in Brecksville for the later half of my school day. I was in a senior-only program called Teaching Professions which introduces college-bound seniors to the field of education. Students graduate high school knowing if education is a viable career for them. This program provides students with a jump start on their education by offering college credit for Foundations of Education (or equivalent) at various colleges/universities. Instructional topics include instructional strategies, lesson planning, learning styles, classroom environment, technology, safety professional responsibilities, collaboration, communication, and monitoring and assessing student performance. Certification in American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and First Aid was available, so I took the course and became certified.
I also completed three observation rotations in actual elementary (2nd grade), middle school (7th grade), and high school (9th grade geometry) classrooms. Throughout the course of the entire school year, I had to complete a teaching portfolio in which I demonstrated my knowledge of teaching methods, standards, and policies. After being evaluated by two college professionals, I received a 95% on my final portfolio.
I have other past experience working with elementary school children at my church's Vacation Bible School for the past four or more summers and I am currently having field experience at Mantua Center Christian Church's weekly storytime for children ages 2-5 helping the kids listen to stories then complete a related crafts.
Personal Statement
I had many interests in high school including art, music, writing, psychology, and education/teaching. I was in the Teaching Professions program at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center. I have already been in various classrooms, so I have a head start going into college with field experience. With this class, I now have more knowledge of what it takes to be an educator. I also enjoyed being in choir all four years of high school advancing from the concert choir to a' capella choir. I had the opportunity to travel and sing in Virginia Beach and at the United Nations building in New York City. Choir taught me to sing in different languages, perform in front of large audiences as well as discipline and control. Two art classes allowed me to express myself and helped me pay attention to visual details. Also, I like the creative writing assignments in my English classes and I was in an AP language and composition course that prepared me for college-level writing. Psychology interested me so I took a class my senior year and now I can use what I learned in that class and apply it towards children's behavior. All of these interests can contribute to some aspect of my intended major of Early Childhood Education.