Sarah

Kennedy

Secondary Teacher

About Me

About 10 years ago I was given an opportunity that lead me to choose teaching as a career. My senior high band director allowed me to co-direct the junior jazz band with another student. I had never before considered teaching as a possible career so this experience truly changed my life. For someone to have that kind of confidence in me knowing I had no experience was an incredible feeling; one that I hope to inspire in my students. While I was not the best teacher or bandleader at that time, it inspired me to learn more and to pursue education as my future.

The most important thing for me is to create a learning environment that is safe and respected. In addition, the most imperative skill I believe I can instill in them is the ability to think critically. We live in a technology based society such that the passing of information has become constant and anyone with a computer can share their opinions and values. With this overload of information, students need to learn how to process it all and form their own opinions.

An avid student myself, I strive to learn as much as I can about all that I teach. As an early-career teacher, the best practice I can do is to prepare myself as extensively as possible. For me this means learning as much about the subject area as possible. I am passionate about both of my teachable subjects and any opportunity for me to learn about either subject is exciting. I truly look forward to all that I will learn from the textbooks, my own studies, and most of all, my students.