Senior Adams State College teacher education student is prepared for profession (04-08-08)
Marni Zabel, helps Joshua Medina, age 5, and Gabe Heersink, age 5, at the Dr. Seuss birthday party held in the Nielsen Library last month.
The Adams State College Department of Teacher Education (TED) reputation as a leader in preparing teachers has attracted top students from all across the nation and has given alumni an advantage in the professional field.
Marni Zabel said she was willing to move from Alaska to earn her degree in elementary education. "I wanted to be in Colorado," she said. "When I spoke to an Adams State recruiter, I liked what I heard." Zabel has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout her college career, has been active in clubs and organizations, has worked two jobs while attending classes, and will graduate in December of 2008.
Zabel says the reason she would like to become a teacher is to give children a chance to shine, that may not have that elsewhere. She said she experienced that feeling, as a sophomore in high school, working with an elementary student. "I worked with Melanie most of the semester to improve her handwriting," Zabel said. "After Christmas break, her handwriting was beautiful. I asked her why the drastic improvement and she said she had a good role model - it made my heart melt."
Besides the required courses to graduate, Zabel has taken classes in addition to her prerequisites such as elementary art methods, elementary music methods, and creative dramatics.
"Marni Zabel has been a joy to work with," Dr. Randall Engle, professor of teacher education, said. "Even though she is still a pre-service teacher (not yet licensed), she already possesses many of the attributes that are found in experienced licensed teachers. She is intellectually inquisitive, highly motivated, and constantly considering ways to enhance the instruction she designs, and the experiences she has with children. Marni always goes the extra mile to ensure success."
Zabel said hands-on experiences provided by the college, including pre-service opportunities and the Lucero Project have taught her as much as her in-classroom courses.
The teacher education faculty and Alamosa School District administrators collaborated to provide Adams State pre-service teachers opportunities to become actively engaged in developing their ability to work with individual students. The Lucero Project was created, over ten years ago, by Carlos and Dorothy Lucero, Adams State graduates of 1961. The project was designed to help "at-risk" children in Alamosa's elementary schools.
While attending Adams State, Zabel was an officer on the Grizzly Activity Board and is the current president of the Education Club. The club teams up with the Colorado Education Association for the student programs. Zabel has traveled to Kentucky for a student connection conference and will be a delegate in April for CEA in Denver. She said it "opens doors" to be involved with CEA as a student.
Dr. Donna Stout, professor of teacher education, is the sponsor for the education club and Zabel has been her student in class. "As the president, she (Zabel) has demonstrated excellent student leadership in directing, organizing, and coordinating the club's planning for various student activities," Stout said. "For instance, the club recently sponsored a 'Dr. Suess Birthday Party' held at the Nielsen Library and over 50 children attended."
Zabel said she believes the professors at Adams State and the opportunities to be involved on a small campus have increased her professional prospects. "I know I will find a job teaching," she said. "I have learned theory and basic skills during my classes, but through working with elementary students I am picking up classroom management skills."
Zabel is currently in her senior block. She works with students in the day and all her college classes meet in the evening. "No matter how stressed out I get - when I am back in the classroom it reminds me of why I want to be a teacher."
On the Web...
By Linda Relyea
