Appalachian State student teachers navigate the realities of teaching

Two student teachers from Appalachian State University, Savannah Epley and Laiken Baker, are preparing for their final step toward graduation and a future in education.

As they guide young learners through their daily routines, both women reflect on the challenges and joys of stepping into their first teaching roles while navigating the unexpected realities of the profession.

In August, Epley and Baker kicked off the school year by collaborating with their clinical educators during teacher workdays to prepare for the upcoming term.

Both women agree that the daily excitement from students fuels their workdays.

“Walking in in the morning is fun, because you walk in and you’re waiting on them,” Baker began.

“They get there and they’re like — ‘HEY!’ Like, they haven’t seen you in a month and it’s just been less than a day … it’s less than 24 hours and they’re already excited,” Baker said with a grin.

From classroom management to testing data, their experiences as student teachers are shaping them into the next generation of educators ready to lead tomorrow’s classrooms.

PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY

Savannah Epley, fourth-grade student teacher at Mull Elementary, said she’s known since 7 years old that she wanted to be a teacher.

“I was a student in Burke County Public Schools, and I loved my teachers and I loved my experience, so it’s been my dream since I was in first grade,” Epley said. Epley is currently under the leadership of clinical educator, Laura Eagan.

Baker, a third-grade student teacher at Salem Elementary School under the guidance of Laura Horton, credits Appalachian State’s internship program as the key preparation for her student teaching role.

“You can teach it, but unless you’re really in it, you really don’t know what to expect,” Baker said.

CLASS ASSIGNMENT

According to Epley, student teachers submit a list of their preferred county and grade level they would like to teach during their assignment.

“It’s not guaranteed, but they do try to make it happen,” Baker said.

Both Epley and Baker got the grade levels and preferred counties they desired.

“I got the grade level that I wanted. Fourth grade is a sweet spot for me,” Epley said. “I like the independence it brings. I enjoy getting into more reading comprehension and reading novels with them and teaching at a higher level.”

Baker enjoys the way third grade students react to her.

“With third grade, they still want to love you, and want to please you, and they still think you’re cool,” Baker laughed. “Once they get to the upper levels, like fifth grade, they’re more trying to be cool with their friends.”

According to Baker, in the classroom, student teachers first observe the teacher and gradually take on the full teacher role. Epley agreed.

“I would say about a month in, there’s a little bit of a gradual release of power. For both of us, they released math to us first, and we taught math completely … and then eventually, we had to teach everything,” Epley said. “We’ve been running a full day for about three months now.”

For Epley, Ms. Eagan watches her teach and interjects if needed.

“She’s been teaching for 27 years, so she’s able to jump in at times and add on to help me co-teach in a way, too,” Epley said.

Baker admits she was surprised by some aspects of her role as a student teacher in the beginning.

REALITY CHECK

“I went in expecting to be a student, and you’re really not … You’re in charge, and that was a big reality shock for me,” Baker said. “I thought I would be teaching kids to read and just loving on these kids all day and it’s not that, as much as you would think,” Baker said.

Epley was most surprised by the amount of testing, requirements, and interpreting that accompanies the profession.

“There’s a lot of interpreting data and test scores,” Epley said. “There’s a lot more demands that I think people on the outside don’t see.”

The ladies described the difference between dealing with parents and students.

“The adults are harder to deal with than the kids. Kids are more forgiving if you mess up. With adults, I feel like it’s harder to let go of something that someone might have messed up on, especially when you’re dealing with their kids,” Baker said.

Epley and Baker are set to graduate in December. The two will be licensed teachers when they return to school in January.

Baker said she is considering a master’s degree in school counseling but would like to complete a full year of teaching before making that decision.

Epley is in for the long haul but is also considering her master’s degree in the future.

“I plan on making it a career. I do foresee in the future getting my master’s. As I get older, if the classroom is something that I want to step away from, being a reading specialist (is appealing) because I really love literacy, more than sometimes, math,” Epley said.