Student Teachers Taking Charge

Sydney Davis and Joel Simmons are both seniors in college that come to Fair Grove High School to get their last credits to graduate in the forms of student teaching. 

Sydney Davis is a student teacher from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary History Education with a minor in Criminology. She is currently teaching in Mr. Faubion’s American History class for students in their freshman year. Ms. Davis shared her favorite thing about working at Fair Grove High School is how much the staff care about each other and the students. “My first day at Fair Grove was the week before school started… I remember being blown away at how much the staff cared about the students here,” Ms. Davis said, “Every meeting was about how to make the school better, how to get students more involved, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with students, celebrating the achievements they made over the summer, and how to make class material more fun and engaging for students- just everything came back to how much the staff cares about the kids here.”

Joel Simmons is another student teacher coming from a different school; Evangel University. Mr. Simmons has a major in social science education and a minor in youth ministry. He is currently teaching Mr. Carrol’s World History class for students in their sophomore year. Mr. Simmons explained that his favorite part of being a student teacher at Fair Grove High school is the teaching staff. Simmons said, “My favorite part is the teaching staff that is here to support me and help me become a better educator.” 

The student teachers have had some difficulties on their way to become an educator. Ms. Davis explained what she had to overcome in her beginning days of being a student teacher at Fair Grove. Ms. Davis said, “This has been my first true experience as a teacher, and it was very intimidating to get up in front of the class everyday to give lectures and to be the person that leads the classroom…” Mr. Simmons said that the most difficult part of being a student teacher was getting the students’ attention. “The hardest part is being able to manage a classroom and actually getting kids to be respectful as well as getting students to actually want to learn the material,” Mr. Simmons mentioned. 

Mr. Simmons is hoping to plan high school history after he graduates college next year. Ms. Davis has a similar plan for her future. Ms. Davis remarked, “I am planning on teaching 9-12 History and also planning to get certified to teach 6-8 History.”