Lauren Perry – Archuleta Munroe, 3rd Grade

I was born and raised in Denver. From an early age, I've had a wide range of career options in mind: everything from a police officer to a computer scientist. In 2008, I graduated from CU Boulder with a degree in Spanish and Business. After graduating, I was able to spend two wonderful years working as a paraprofessional at McMeen Elementary where I ultimately made the decision that I wanted to be a teacher.

I chose the Denver Teacher Residency because it stood out as a top program among Denver educational programs. So many other programs give you in-class instruction and a semester of student teaching, and then throw you into your first year of teaching. The best thing about the DTR program is that it is very hands-on. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work alongside a teacher in a DPS school for an entire year and to apply the theories that I'm learning to what is actually happening in the classroom.

The thing that I enjoy most about teaching is watching how students grow over the course of the school year. When they come in, they're kind of shy and nervous about being in a new environment, but by the time they leave, they've completely turned around. The kids who never raised their hands at the beginning of the year are suddenly the ones who can't seem to stop talking!

In the upcoming year, I'm looking forward to strengthening my skills and increasing my confidence as a teacher. I'm excited about working with a lead teacher and take the next ten months to absorb everything that I can. By working alongside some of the district's most successful teachers, we will be able to tackle challenges such as closing the achievement gap and increasing the graduation rate, ultimately making DPS one of the best school districts in the nation.