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=Michaela Lamarre's Professional Portfolio= Eighth Grade Science and English Teacher Saco Middle School Saco, Maine 04072 email: mlamarre@rsu23.org Mrs. Lamarre's Class Website

My five years as an Eighth grade Science and English teacher have been both challenging and rewarding as I try to create a safe and engaging classroom for all my students. I arrive at Saco Middle School every morning excited to exchange scientific ideas with my students and delightfully watch as they digest the new information with their own style of learning. During my English class, I work with students to develop their writing skills and encourage them to incorporate voice and imagination within their writing assignments. I constantly seek professional development opportunities so that I can better myself as an educator.

When I tell people that I teach eighth grade, they generally respond by saying they would never want to work with that age group. I will admit that it can be a challenge at times to manage hormonal pre-teens and encourage them to be inquisitive about the world around them. However isn’t that challenge why most educators have chosen this career path? As an educator I am dedicated to working in the world of adolescence and learning from my students and my peers how to be a better teacher. I have faith that I will come out unscathed and better able to teach my content! I have taught eighth grade for five years; during that time my experiences have shaped my philosophy of education. While the way I teach has changed, my mission remains the same. I want to be an effective educator and have a positive impact on my students and school community; I have high expectations for myself and my students deserve nothing less.

As I continue my career in the field of education, I have hopes of working in school administration. Throughout my graduate studies at the University of New England, I have focused my studies and reflected upon the skills necessary to be a successful school leader. I understand that in order for students to achieve academic success, a school must build a foundation that is a shared vision. A school leader is responsible for the quality of that foundation and must create a school culture that is conducive to student and staff success. This includes collaborating with students, staff, and community members to ensure that all operations are managed with integrity.