[ad_1]
JACKSON, MI — Aleta Dam is a lifelong lover of nature and science, but she didn’t originally plan on entering the field of education. But she became an educator in a “circular way.”
When he began attending Jackson University (then Jackson Community College), Dam enrolled as a psychology major with the intention of eventually pursuing pre-law studies. As fate would have it, Ms. Dam accepted a job as a laboratory assistant for the late Professor George Ekon. Her professor noticed her interest in science and convinced her that a career in education might be her calling.
“Ever since I was a child, I always had a strong fascination with science,” Dam recalls. “(Econ) said, ‘You’re going to be a great science teacher,’ and that was it. I dropped out of James Madison University and went to Eastern University. The rest is history.”
Dam, 55, graduated from EMU in 1992 with degrees in elementary education and teaching and began a 30-year career with Jackson Public Schools in 1994. She worked as a paraprofessional until getting her regular job. teacher of time.
After teaching science at all levels from kindergarten through eighth grade at Parkside Middle School for 20 years, Dam spent the past three years as an elementary school STEAM teacher. In one week she teaches at JPS Montessori Center for three days and at John R. Lewis Elementary School for two days.
Now in her 30th year of teaching, Dam sat down with MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot to reflect on her checkered career, the lessons she’s taught, and the lessons she’s learned herself.
Jackson Citizen Patriot: Was there a particular moment or experience that inspired you to enter the field of education?
aleta dam: Mr. Econ. Until then, I had never thought about becoming a teacher. I was really convinced that I was going to do probate law. And then he approached me about it. And I had no connection between my love and myself. Passion for science and education.
Japanese Communist Party: Why was teaching science such a calling for you?
dam: I have always been curious and have been fascinated by space ever since I can remember. My cousin is his ambassador for NASA and does astrophotography. I remember when he was 5 or 6, he brought a telescope and showed me. According to my mother, even when I was very young, I was always interested in nature. It’s always been in me, so I’ve always been interested in things like that, but it was kind of a hobby. When Mr. Econ said, “You can make a career out of this,” I knew I could finally do something that I was passionate about and share that passion with others. It occurred to me that this might be the case.
Japanese Communist Party: What do you like most about your job?
dam: Of course the children. I like watching little light bulbs turn on. I like that surprise and amazement. I love making changes and seeing them grow. Even though I have been teaching for many years, I think every day that these kids have made me a better teacher and a better person.
Japanese Communist Party: Is there a particular moment or experience in your career that you consider the most rewarding?
dam: I can definitely say it was the NASA Explorer School program at Parkside. At that time, the grants were highly competitive. Every year, only about 50 schools from all over the country are selected. It was a very broad grant, and it took him five tries before it was approved. My colleagues told me to try again, so I did it and was able to give the kids so much experience.
Related: Jackson teachers Aleta Dam and Julie Baker named “Teacher of the Year”
About 10 teachers from Parkside went through that experience over two years. At NASA’s expense, we were able to visit NASA centers across the country and bring the program back to schools. There were also astronauts and engineers who visited the school. School provided many opportunities that those children would never have had the chance to experience.
But it got my name out there and opened up all these other opportunities for me that allowed me to go back to school. For example, I participated in a grant program with Michigan State University where I was able to pilot (a program). The program is now published in a book called “Choice, Control & Change,” which is about keeping your diet and calorie intake in the middle. School science curriculum. I went to Columbia University in New York City so I could pilot it and help rewrite it.
Japanese Communist Party: The education sector has evolved in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. How have you changed and evolved as a teacher over the past few years?
dam:When the pandemic hit, I was just starting to go back to school, and I was transitioning from middle school to elementary school. (I) learned patience. You just need to be patient. We need to get serious about differentiation. It is not one-size-fits-all and must be tailored to the child’s current situation. It may be emotional, psychological, or academic. But we have such a wide range of kids that we have to meet them. You have to meet them where they are, you have to be patient, and you have to love them on their good days and their bad.
If you know a K-12 educator in Jackson or Washtenaw County who would be featured in our weekly “Meet the Teacher” series, please send an email with your contact information to: please. mkukulka@mlive.com.
Want more reports like this delivered to your inbox for free? click here Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Michigan Schools.
Want more Jackson area news? Bookmark Local Jackson News Page Or sign up for free.3@3 Jackson” daily newsletter.
[ad_2]
Source link
