Nikki Chamberlain, a high school chemistry teacher, and Adriane Falco, an elementary music educator, answer questions from students about teaching last Monday in Visser Hall 330. The questions ranged from their own perspective and philosophy toward teaching and the challenges of being a teacher.
Three Emporia State University organizations came together to host an event Monday evening, inviting Master Teachers Adrianne Falco and Nikki Chamberlain to have a conversation with education students and answer their questions. The event was sponsored by ISEA, KNEA, and Kappa Delta Pi.
“They gave a good perspective of what’s actually happening in the education field,” said Kirsten Blau, senior elementary education major. “I wanted to come because I wanted another teacher’s perspective.”
The event was causal, held in a science classroom with refreshments offered and students sitting at desks. The Master Teachers took questions just as they would, calling on students.
“People brought a lot of diverse questions and perspectives to the field,” said Paul Reichenberger, president of KNEA and sophomore business education major. “I feel like we not only learned about ways to be an effective educator, but ways to be an effective individual in the community.”
Blau felt Falco and Chamberlain offered advice to education majors.
“Being a student teacher, I can take a lot of this back to my own student teaching experience,” Blau said.
Their most important point was balancing school life with home life, according to Blau.
“I’ve noticed I do take my school work home with me and think about it outside of school,” Blau said.
Falco and Chamberlain were chosen for this event because they were already hosting workshops on campus during the week, as part of being Kansas Master Teachers of the Year. They were willing to volunteer their time to answer questions.
According to Dr. Amanda Lickteig, a teacher education professor, a master teacher is one who has earned the award presented each year to a group of teachers who typify the good qualities of earnest and conscientious teachers.
“It has always been an aim of our group to collaborate more with other education-based organizations on campus,” Lickteig said.
The group’s core goal is to build and maintain a community of secondary education students on campus.
A potluck dinner hosted by ISEA, will be held 5 p.m. on Feb. 22 in Visser, according to Lillian Lingenfelter, ISEA President and senior secondary education major.