Name: Morgan Killmar
Location: State of Hawaii Department of Education; West Hawaii Complex, Kealakekua, Hawaii
Class/content area taught: 7th grade Health/Healthy Living
What are you most excited about with your new career? I was excited to get “classroom” teaching experience since my main experiences had been in Physical Education so that classroom is a little different. I was also excited to get to work with students of a lot of different backgrounds.
What you enjoy most about teaching: Getting to know the students and finding ways to excite them about learning. I also love teaching students about things that truly affect every aspect of their life, whether or not they grasp it at this age I hope they understand how important these things I’m teaching them are.
In what ways has your school/district supported you? I had weekly meetings with a new teacher mentor. It honestly felt as if there was no support from administration. I had to figure a lot of things out on my own, it was hard to ask questions being a new teacher and not knowing who to ask or feeling nervous/uncomfortable asking. The new teacher mentor was great but it was kind of difficult because I was just given generic answers to questions or concerns, not subject specific. I still felt I had to figure most things out on my own.
What are some specific things you believe KSU especially helped prepare you for your new career? I felt ready and prepared to teach Physical Education and Health. I was comfortable with the subject matter and how to format lessons effectively.
I wish in the general education classes they covered more about the actual process of interviewing and getting a teaching job. This proved to be very difficult for me and I felt unprepared. It was like I knew how I should do the job, just not how to actually get it. Even when I accepted the job, I had no idea about how to read or look over a contract, I had no idea how to understand the health insurance options, I really felt very lost.
Are there specifics about your background that make teaching the perfect fit for you? My grandmother was a teacher, but that didn’t really affect my decision. I love kids and I love teaching them things and having fun with them. Education is very serious and important but I think also kids don’t need to have so much pressure on them because I think that turns them away from education when they should be drawn to it. I want them to want to learn so I try to show them how I want to learn with them.
Suggestions/encouragement for new teachers: DO NOT be afraid to ask questions, I kind of am so it would definitely help make things easier if you felt comfortable asking questions.
Don’t feel pressured to change how you would do or teach something just because it hasn’t been done that way or someone else didn’t find success with it, DO YOU!
Do not let administration or other teachers mistreat or disrespect you. Stand your ground, just because you are young or a new teacher doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the same respect and appreciation. We are the future of education.
If you have an idea, SAY IT! Your ideas are new and fresh, others are reused or overdone, kids need new ideas.
Be respectful to everyone on campus, other teachers, administration, custodial crew, etc. A school is a team, while a team may have leaders, everyone is important to the success of that team so everyone should be equally respected.
It has been hard this year because I feel like people are less social, less likely to gather in rooms or for lunch or things like that but I would encourage you to talk to people at work, try to make friends, it would make things a lot easier.
Other thoughts? Get your PRAXIS done ASAP. In Hawaii you have to teach using a provisional license for 3 years before you get your full license, no one told me this so since testing centers in Kansas were closed because of COVID I only had a one-year non-renewable license in Kansas which only transferred as an Emergency Hire Permit here in Hawaii, meaning this whole year of teaching was NOT going towards my required provisional teaching time. I would just say no matter where you are planning to teach, Kansas or elsewhere, just try to figure out the licensing as soon as possible. They told me here even if I took my Praxis and got my provisional license I would be paid the same as with my Emergency Hire Permit, this was not correct. Once I finished both of my Praxis and transferred from Emergency Hire to having my provisional license my pay raised. This was very frustrating to me. Obviously I could have tried harder to find out if that was correct or not myself but again, I am a brand new teacher in general and in this state so I had no idea where to start looking for information like that or who to attempt to contact. That’s another thing, DO NOT be afraid to ask about money, this is a job… you get paid… so ask about it. Ask what the pay is, what benefits there are, ask about sick leave, etc. Anything you want to know before accepting the job ask, because otherwise no one will tell you.
Don’t be afraid to move! Coming from someone who was born and raised in Kansas and lived there til I was nearly 23, don’t be afraid to move. Just because something feels safe or comfortable doesn’t mean it is what is best for you and your life. This is your first real chance in life to make decisions that serve you and only you, so do what makes you happy! Your family will survive if you move away from them and you will too. (And if staying in Kansas is what makes you happy do that.)
Bonus question, thanks to the Pandemic: COVID-19—How has the Pandemic shaped your classroom—the environment, safety precautions, etc.? How has it affected you as a new teacher? For the first 3 quarters of the year we were completely online. Monday/Thursday in the mornings on Google Meets was 1st-3rd period, Tuesday/Friday was 4th-6th period and Wednesdays are meeting days. Advisory meetings, team meetings, elective team meetings, full faculty meetings, new teacher meetings, etc. 4th quarter we have the same online schedule in the morning but A-Ka Last Names come to campus Monday and Tuesday, Ke-Z Last Names come to campus Thursday and Friday. After lunch there are 40-minute “unplugged” classes in the afternoon with the same periods they met with in the morning.
I think this year made it very very hard to stay motivated and positive as a new teacher. There were very low days, just a boring or sad feeling like this isn’t what I wanted to do or this isn’t what I signed up for. Overall it has been hard, there have been small moments that make me feel like I’m doing a good job but I would say it is very hard to not see people face to face, not make those actual human connections or just not feeling like the kids care at all. I am hopeful for the next school year and hopeful I can get another job and get the chance to start over. I have loved my experience out here and have learned a lot about life, teaching and just myself.