Name: Brianna (Hammond) Fibelkorn
Position: USD 259
City/State: Wichita, KS
Class/content area taught: Second grade
What you are most excited about with your new career: I am excited to finally put everything I’ve learned over the past 4 ½ years to the ultimate test. I am most excited to be among other professionals who LOVE their job and have a passion for people! It’s also exciting being among the youth of the upcoming generation; knowing I have a small and mighty impact on them for the year I get them in the classroom. So… lots to be excited for!!!
What you enjoy most about teaching: My favorite thing about teaching is the continuous growth it provides to me. Each day I’m given multiple decisions I must make instantly or within a short period of time. Each time I make a decision, the outcome teaches me and grows me and shapes me into a better professional. I love the opportunities for professional growth and personal growth. Both adults and kids are helping to mold me into my best self and that is what I love about teaching.
In what ways has your school/district supported you? I am thankful for my peer consultant that my district has provided for me. My district also provides inservices just for new teachers. At these inservices they provide us resources, a place to collaborate, and a check in with other teachers going through the same first year process.
Ways KSU especially helped prepare you for your new career: Specific things that helped prepare me for teaching in the classroom include peer teaching, practicum assignments, and unit planning assignments. Teaching to my peers back in college helped prepare me for presenting to other colleagues during staff meetings or team meetings. My practicum assignments really built up my tool box of teaching techniques and management ideas for this first year. And finally, learning how to write my own unit plan helped provide an outline and sequence of how to write one now that I’m in the classroom.
Are there specifics about your background that make teaching the perfect fit for you? Something I love about my back story, is that I don’t have any family members that are/were teachers. Teaching is the perfect fit for me because it’s my passion that was instilled in me from a teacher way back in 2nd grade. I love that my pursuit of an education degree came after trying out 3 other majors, but teaching always found its way back to the forefront. I found out teaching was the perfect fit for me when I met my best friends in educational psychology class and found joy in writing lesson plans! I love this job!
Suggestions/encouragement for new teachers: This year, my mantra has been accredited to one of Franklin Covey’s paradigm shifts:Change starts with me.
I chose this to remind me to stay away from the negatives and politics that may come with education. This paradigm helps keep my focus on the big rocks of life: my kids, my classroom, my colleagues, my school. If I want change to happen, I must first start with myself.
Other thoughts: Leaving you with my favorite quote:
“Be a fountain, not a drain.” – Rex Hudler