in Nacogdoches, Texas. I have a B.S.Ed, with a Minor in Reading.
I also attended Angelina Junior College while a senior at
Lufkin High School, where I was an Honor Graduate of the LHS Class of 1985.
I have been teaching for the past 15 years.
I began teaching a split-grade level assignment of 5th and 6th
grade Language Arts and Mathematics students.
The school was 45 miles away from my home,
which meant a very early morning commute.
My first classroom had wooden floors, ten foot ceilings, and a
massive desk that I could barely move.
To top it off, my first year of teaching I had the following students:
the Supt.'s granddaughter, the High School principal's son,
the school secretary's son, and the children of three school board members!
That was definitely an experience; I didn't even know enough to be scared!
Beginning my teaching career at
Broaddus ISD.was a wonderful start to a great career!
Since that humble beginning, I have taught two years of second grade,
and 6 years of first grade with Rusk ISD and Diboll ISD.
I did my Field Experience teaching in third grade, and my student teaching in
fourth grade, both with Lufkin ISD.
I had the opportunity to teach for 2 years at a local private school, St. Patrick's School.
I hope to return to Graduate School to get my Master's in Administration.
I believe the wide range of teaching experiences that I have gained will be a valuable
asset to the field of education.
I am currently teaching first grade with Lufkin ISD.
The Lufkin Daily News recently wrote an article
about how much things have changed in the primary classroom.
Lufkin Teacher:Talk about Coming Full Circle! tells how I have come back to teaching
in the same classroom where I was once a first grade student.
Unfortunately, this article is no longer on the Lufkin Daily News website.
According to my husband I WILL BE RETIRING FROM TROUT PRIMARY,
because HE is NOT helping me take down, store,
and put together another classroom, EVER!
I guess this means that I'll be retiring from the classroom where my
educational journey began all those years ago!
I am certified to teach Gifted and Talented Students and
English as a Second Language Students.
I have recently added an Early Childhood endorsement to my Texas Teaching Certificate.
I have received training in the New Zealand Literacy Model and
MATH THEIR WAY teaching styles.
I was trained in BRIDGES MATH in 2004, and have enjoyed
teaching this hands-on approach to learning Math.
I am excited to be using the Balanced Literacy Approach to Learning,
and I enjoy discussing the value of individualized learning approaches.
Stop by Mrs. B's Blog and say hello.
I love the field of Education, and consider the years I've spent teaching a great experience.
I have learned many things from the children who have come through my classroom.
If I have learned one most important thing, it would be that
teaching is truly a calling, not a profession.
I hope that I whenever I cease to be amazed and in awe of
the children in my classroom, that I will move along to something else--
our children deserve the very best that we have to offer them.
Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: Donna Burran,
Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant.
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