Texas Teachers | Alternative Teacher Certification Program : Success Story by Donna Burrell

Success Stories

Meet Donna Burrell

Q&A with Donna Burrell

Where are you originally from?

Houston, Texas. I prefer to live and work in the school district that gave me a solid foundation.
Where did you go to college and what did you study?

Associate Degree from Community College of the Air Force in Electronic Systems Technology (a terrific background to have to strengthen analytical and problem-solving skills). Bachelor Degree from National University at San Diego (online program) in Global Studies... talk about getting the global picture of our place in this world!
Do you have children?

Yes, one daughter who will enter 7th grade at the start of this next school year. P.S. She is also a student in the same schools that I attended. There was no other option for her education!
Do you remember your favorite teacher? What made them special to you?

My favorite teacher was my 7th grade history teacher, Ms. Jacob, because she was the first teacher to take the time to actually listen to students and make them feel understood.
What did you do before teaching?

The year before I began teaching I was an unemployed parent volunteer in my daughter's school. The five years prior to that, I worked in mortgage banking. The most exciting time was the eight and a half years from high school until mortgage banking when I was active duty Air Force. It was in the Air Force that I got an introduction to working in a school environment while I worked in the technology training centers.
What surprised you the most when you started teaching?

The biggest surprise was that teaching became all that I thought it would be...and more! Even though the days seem to last longer than they used to and there doesn't seem to be enough time to teach the last bit of material, but the challenge and excitement is renewed everyday through the studen's motivations and questions. My next challenge is to learn how the veteran teachers go home everyday without stacks of papers to grade!
What is the biggest challenge for new teachers?

The biggest challenge is to not get overwhelmed in the first few weeks of school... that only leads to frustration and headaches. Expect lots of acronyms (i.e. ITBS, TELPAS, TAKS, IEP, LEP, ARD to name a few) and many deadlines... just pace yourself and do not be afraid to ask for help!
How long do you think it takes for a new teacher to really get their hands around teaching?

By the time the Christmas vacation starts, new teachers can consider themselves truly competent in student monitoring and proficient in teaching. The first half of the school year are so intense and overwhelming that it's very easy to get lost in the process. Remember, do not base your entire teaching career on the results of the first half of your first year!
What do the kids teach you?

The kids have taught me that learning does not always come from the textbooks. In fact, the most valuable lessons learned, according to my students, are the ones in which they were able to connect textbook "stuff" to real-world situations. Plus, with a side-order of hugs and confidence-building, the kids truly are empowered to own their educational successes.
What's the funniest thing that's happened to you in the classroom?

The funniest thing was the first hour of the first day of school. I had prepared for two weeks to gather, outline, and rehearse my notes, have student "Day 1" activity sheets, and collaborated with my mentor on which procedures to teach first. The "Day 1" tasks should have lasted the entire day. As the students gathered in the classroom, I successfully accomplished my "Day 1" goal. Then, the students were staring at me, I was staring at them, I glanced to the clock to realize that I still had six hours left in the school day. (Talk about an awkward moment of silence!) Luckily, my mentor saved the day.
Why did you choose the Texas Teachers program?

The Texas Teachers Program came highly recommended by some coworkers who had previously gone through this program. It was just as my coworkers said—an organization that puts customer service first and provides quality training through a comfortable training schedule.
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