Ready to Teach
M.Ed. student Nikki Loria is prepared to fly solo
If Nikki Loria’s plans fall into place, she’ll soon be working full time as a kindergarten teacher. Loria, who earned her bachelor’s in elementary education from the University last year, always knew she wanted to work with children.
“I like all age ranges, but I really love kindergarten because five- and six-year olds are so excited to be learning, and it’s fun to be around that excitement,” Loria explains.
Loria is completing a yearlong pre-service placement at Earle Brown Elementary School in Brooklyn Center--one of the college's newly designated professional development schools. Since last August, she has taught side-by-side with experienced teacher Abby Johnson in her kindergarten classroom. In addition to such partnerships between teacher candidates and expert K-12 educators, professional development schools benefit from University support and resources for staff development.
“Abby makes me feel like I’m just as much a part of the classroom as she is,” says Loria. “I feel really lucky because I’ve learned so much that I don’t think I could have any other way.”
Through the yearlong experience, Loria says she’s learned how to genuinely engage children to get them excited about learning and developed an understanding of the International Baccalaureate program.
Johnson also praises Loria, calling her “a great addition” to the teaching team and pointing out her wide-ranging abilities that clearly benefit the kids she works with.
“Students gravitate to her calm and friendly demeanor,” Johnson explains. “And her keen intuition is impressive when observing and understanding our students’ needs.”
Though she hopes to stay in Minnesota where she has extended family and can easily visit her parents in South Dakota, Loria is open to moving elsewhere to have her own classroom. Regardless of where she goes, she feels well prepared to teach.
“I feel like I’ve learned from some of the best people at the University, and I’ve been taught what really works in a lot of diverse situations, so that’s made all the difference.”
Story by Meleah Maynard | May 2011
