2010-2011 Residency Completing residency at Montclair Elementary, 5th Grade
I was born and raised in California, where I knew early on that I wanted to be an educator. My childhood was filled with made-up lesson plans and dry erase markers because all I wanted to do was teach. Although I dabbled in a few other directions along the way, my desire to teach was true then, and it’s especially true now. I spent the past several years in the corporate realm of the restaurant industry. I eventually found myself working with the training department in a non-traditional learning setting where I rekindled my desire to teach. After volunteering at a local elementary school for a semester to further explore my passion, I made up my mind for certain that education was where I needed to be. As I’ve gained personal and professional experiences, I have been able to better solidify this desire to educate.
Finding the Denver Teacher Residency was a very fortunate accident for me. Having just taken a weekend trip to Denver, I was curious to see what teaching opportunities might be available. So after what felt like endless days of searching on Craigslist, a posting popped up from DTR. It sounded too good to be true – as I learned more about the opportunity, however, I knew I had to apply. Like I’m sure most people entering the profession would say, I want to help. I want to make a difference. But even more so, I want to work towards improving the quality of education so that every student has a fair chance. I was particularly drawn to the Denver Teacher Residency for this reason because the program seemed so focus on always putting the student first and closing the achievement gap. I also really liked that the program provides the chance to develop alongside a mentor teacher. None of the others programs I looked into could even compare – everything was so well organized and accessible with DTR, it was no contest for me. I am honored to be a part of a program that is adamant about putting students first. Just being a teacher is a privilege in itself, but being a part of this program is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
I am so eager to get soak up all that I can in the classroom. I am getting my “feet wet” right away and learning from my mentor teacher. I feel I learn best by doing, and I think the benefits of a congruent and interactive classroom environment are immense. Getting the opportunity to work with students four days a week for an entire year is a gift. I have become increasingly aware of the need for betterment in education, and not only do I believe it is possible, I get to be a part of it. With this program, I get to join the school community right from the start. I year ahead is proving to be challenging, but I am looking forward to mastering what it means to be a truly effective teacher.
Danielle Hoppe
2010-2011 Residency
Completing residency at Montclair Elementary, 5th Grade
I was born and raised in California, where I knew early on that I wanted to be an educator. My childhood was filled with made-up lesson plans and dry erase markers because all I wanted to do was teach. Although I dabbled in a few other directions along the way, my desire to teach was true then, and it’s especially true now. I spent the past several years in the corporate realm of the restaurant industry. I eventually found myself working with the training department in a non-traditional learning setting where I rekindled my desire to teach. After volunteering at a local elementary school for a semester to further explore my passion, I made up my mind for certain that education was where I needed to be. As I’ve gained personal and professional experiences, I have been able to better solidify this desire to educate.
Finding the Denver Teacher Residency was a very fortunate accident for me. Having just taken a weekend trip to Denver, I was curious to see what teaching opportunities might be available. So after what felt like endless days of searching on Craigslist, a posting popped up from DTR. It sounded too good to be true – as I learned more about the opportunity, however, I knew I had to apply. Like I’m sure most people entering the profession would say, I want to help. I want to make a difference. But even more so, I want to work towards improving the quality of education so that every student has a fair chance. I was particularly drawn to the Denver Teacher Residency for this reason because the program seemed so focus on always putting the student first and closing the achievement gap. I also really liked that the program provides the chance to develop alongside a mentor teacher. None of the others programs I looked into could even compare – everything was so well organized and accessible with DTR, it was no contest for me. I am honored to be a part of a program that is adamant about putting students first. Just being a teacher is a privilege in itself, but being a part of this program is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
I am so eager to get soak up all that I can in the classroom. I am getting my “feet wet” right away and learning from my mentor teacher. I feel I learn best by doing, and I think the benefits of a congruent and interactive classroom environment are immense. Getting the opportunity to work with students four days a week for an entire year is a gift. I have become increasingly aware of the need for betterment in education, and not only do I believe it is possible, I get to be a part of it. With this program, I get to join the school community right from the start. I year ahead is proving to be challenging, but I am looking forward to mastering what it means to be a truly effective teacher.