A new generation of educators

MONROE — One of student teacher Lindsay Roe’s greatest joys has been nurturing a love of learning in the students of North Main Elementary in Monroe.

Roe, of Bloomingburg, is a Mount Saint Mary College history major on the childhood/special education track. This semester, she took the reins in cooperative teacher Helen Vanier’s 12-student, self-contained third grade classroom.

“I work closely with small groups,” Roe said in the college’s press release detailing the program. “They’ve been writing their own realistic fiction stories, and every day we do guided reading.”

In addition to reading and writing, Roe also teaches mathematics, technology, social studies, and more. The experience has allowed her to hone the skills she learned as a Mount student.

A few weeks before her current assignment, Roe taught a mid-sized class of fifth graders in North Main Elementary under the guidance of Dina Shortall. Both experiences have confirmed what Roe already knew: “I’m definitely in the right profession,” she revealed.

At the Mount, education professor Ludmila Smirnova was instrumental in molding Roe into a confident teacher.

“She was one of the first teachers I had here,” Roe said. “Before Dr. Smirnova taught me how to use it, I was a little afraid of technology. But she doesn’t take fear as an excuse, and now I use technology in the classroom all the time.”

Roe also sharpened her teaching skills during the 2015 summer interim via an internship with the Breakthrough Collaborative, which prepares low-income middle school students for promising college careers. Roe was chosen out of 700 candidates vying for 50 positions. Her peers included students from Yale, Harvard and Princeton universities.

Living in Brooklyn, Roe taught eighth grade literature to exceptional children culled from throughout New York City. In only six weeks, the students read, analyzed, and reported on novels including “To Kill a Mocking Bird” and “Fahrenheit 451.”

“My professors at the Mount have taught me how to teach,” said Roe. “I was able to put that to use with Breakthrough and now at North Main Elementary, and I feel thoroughly prepared for whatever comes next.”

At Mount Saint Mary College, more than 12 percent of incoming freshman are aiming for careers in education. The college’s renowned education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The program embeds fieldwork in coursework beginning in sophomore year, and earns high marks in preparing students for New York State licensure as teachers.

For more information, visit www.msmc.edu.