2009-2010 Residency Teaching at Fairview Elementary, Kindergarten
I am 25 and a proud product of DPS (go JFK!). I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications in 2007. I spent the semester before graduation traveling the world through the Semester At Sea Program where I was able to visit and perform service projects in 10 different countries.
I have worked and volunteered with various organizations over the years, including Girls Incorporated, Boys and Girls Clubs, Mi Casa Resource Center, and Healing Waters Family Center (to name a few). I am proud to be a part of the inaugural residency class and feel very fortunate that I have the opportunity to do what I love and to make a difference in my community. As a product of DPS, I feel that Denver Teacher Residency is a perfect fit for me, and I am happy to have begun working and sharing my passion with Denver’s students.
As a DPS grad, I feel that I am familiar with many of the challenges that this unique group of urban students brings with them. I think that the structure of the program is unique, and the time that residents spend in the classroom during the residency year is invaluable. Residents are constantly working toward reaching goals that I am passionate about – closing the achievement gap and ensuring that all students have access to a quality education with superior educators. I feel that this program is truly one of the best.
As a resident at Montclair Elementary, I loved learning alongside a mentor teacher who helped prepare me for teaching. I learned so much and feel very fortunate to have been able to observe and teach with individuals who are so very talented and passionate about what they do.
Finding a way to differentiate instruction is one of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered thus far. DPS classrooms have a variety of students who are all at different levels academically. Finding time to prepare and teach several different lessons so that all students are challenged and set up to achieve at their full potential while maintaining a productive whole group atmosphere is a challenge. The amount of time and preparation that it takes to be an effective teacher for all of your students is startling. This job goes way beyond the 40-hour work week, but the time put in is well worth it!
Valerie Martinez – Fairview Elementary, Kindergarten
2009-2010 Residency
Teaching at Fairview Elementary, Kindergarten
I am 25 and a proud product of DPS (go JFK!). I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications in 2007. I spent the semester before graduation traveling the world through the Semester At Sea Program where I was able to visit and perform service projects in 10 different countries.
I have worked and volunteered with various organizations over the years, including Girls Incorporated, Boys and Girls Clubs, Mi Casa Resource Center, and Healing Waters Family Center (to name a few). I am proud to be a part of the inaugural residency class and feel very fortunate that I have the opportunity to do what I love and to make a difference in my community. As a product of DPS, I feel that Denver Teacher Residency is a perfect fit for me, and I am happy to have begun working and sharing my passion with Denver’s students.
As a DPS grad, I feel that I am familiar with many of the challenges that this unique group of urban students brings with them. I think that the structure of the program is unique, and the time that residents spend in the classroom during the residency year is invaluable. Residents are constantly working toward reaching goals that I am passionate about – closing the achievement gap and ensuring that all students have access to a quality education with superior educators. I feel that this program is truly one of the best.
As a resident at Montclair Elementary, I loved learning alongside a mentor teacher who helped prepare me for teaching. I learned so much and feel very fortunate to have been able to observe and teach with individuals who are so very talented and passionate about what they do.
Finding a way to differentiate instruction is one of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered thus far. DPS classrooms have a variety of students who are all at different levels academically. Finding time to prepare and teach several different lessons so that all students are challenged and set up to achieve at their full potential while maintaining a productive whole group atmosphere is a challenge. The amount of time and preparation that it takes to be an effective teacher for all of your students is startling. This job goes way beyond the 40-hour work week, but the time put in is well worth it!