Clairessa+Nicholas

My life right now is split between three roles. First and foremost I am a mother. I have three children ranging in ages from thirteen to six. My next role is as a teacher to sixth grade students at La Promesa Elementary. I have been a licensed teacher for three years and was a parent volunteer for ten years before that. Finally I am a student at UNM. I am halfway through my graduate program and I am focusing on Science and Technology. I chose these areas because they are being pushed out of our district’s curriculum slowly and I want to find ways to integrate them into the children’s everyday lives. I began volunteering at my children’s school when my daughter began preschool. I helped in classrooms once to twice a week. This led to learning strategies in the classroom, and about curriculum and planning. The teachers I helped knew I was working to become a teacher and were very open to teaching me. My children are my life. I feel that they are my hobby because outside of work and school I revolve around them. We are very close and do many things together. I have developed my career around them in order to be there when they need me and to be a part of their lives on a daily basis. I worked my way through my bachelor’s degree by working nights as a stocking associate at Wal-Mart for five years and as an overnight cashier at Isleta Casino. I did take ten years to receive my degree because I was attending classes’ part time. I graduated in 2008 with a Bachelors of Science in Education. At this time I have no extra degrees or certification. I do not have one area that I enjoy more than others so I attend any and all training courses sent my way. As I have no ambition to leave elementary level classes I want to continue learning about all subjects. My claim to fame this year is as Tech Liaison at my school. I am learning how to fix minor issues within our school and pushing for the use of new programs in the district.