Whitworth education alumna featured on MSNBC
October 13, 2011
Whitworth Master's in Teaching alumna, Amy Esmay, '11, recently was featured in an msnbc.com article detailing the steps being taken across the country to tackle a "classroom crisis" that is happening as the result of many children being taught my teachers who have little or no experience due to the increasing numbers of Baby Boomer teachers retiring.
Esmay was highlighted as an example of the gains some school districts are making in addressing the problem. She teaches at Redmond Elementary in the Lake Washington School District, which was recently recognized for having one of the greatest new teacher retention rates in the country. This success is due to a new teacher induction mentoring program, from which Esmay has greatly benefited.
Esmay was recruited to teach gifted fifth and sixth-graders at Redmond Elementary, in Redmond, Wash., shortly after she graduated from Whitworth in July. She says she's already in love with her new profession.
"I absolutely love everything about my job. I cannot wait to get up every day and start the day," Esmay says.
Esmay was selected to be interviewed for the MSNBC article because she has directly benefited from the mentoring program and because, at 23-years-old, she is one of the youngest teachers in the district.
"I was replacing a 'baby boomer' veteran teacher at Redmond Elementary, so I think it made for a great story," she says. "I was extremely excited to represent the young, new generation of teachers and to bring recognition to the amazing new teacher support program."
Read the MSNBC article featuring Esmay at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44505094/ns/today-education_nation/.
Esmay says that Whitworth's MIT program, and its emphasis on field experience, prepared her well for her new job.
"My numerous classes and student teaching experience were incredibly beneficial," Esmay says. "These experiences prepared me for the classroom and taught me how to become an effective and responsive teacher."
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The university, which has an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, offers 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Emily Proffitt, public information officer, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or eproffitt@whitworth.edu.
Esmay was highlighted as an example of the gains some school districts are making in addressing the problem. She teaches at Redmond Elementary in the Lake Washington School District, which was recently recognized for having one of the greatest new teacher retention rates in the country. This success is due to a new teacher induction mentoring program, from which Esmay has greatly benefited.
Esmay was recruited to teach gifted fifth and sixth-graders at Redmond Elementary, in Redmond, Wash., shortly after she graduated from Whitworth in July. She says she's already in love with her new profession.
"I absolutely love everything about my job. I cannot wait to get up every day and start the day," Esmay says.
Esmay was selected to be interviewed for the MSNBC article because she has directly benefited from the mentoring program and because, at 23-years-old, she is one of the youngest teachers in the district.
"I was replacing a 'baby boomer' veteran teacher at Redmond Elementary, so I think it made for a great story," she says. "I was extremely excited to represent the young, new generation of teachers and to bring recognition to the amazing new teacher support program."
Read the MSNBC article featuring Esmay at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44505094/ns/today-education_nation/.
Esmay says that Whitworth's MIT program, and its emphasis on field experience, prepared her well for her new job.
"My numerous classes and student teaching experience were incredibly beneficial," Esmay says. "These experiences prepared me for the classroom and taught me how to become an effective and responsive teacher."
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The university, which has an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, offers 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Emily Proffitt, public information officer, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or eproffitt@whitworth.edu.
