Sarah Hartuniewicz

There are many factors that have contributed to my interest in teaching. First and
foremost, my passion for working with children has led me to pursue a career in
education. I believe that all children are capable of learning, achieving goals, and
reaching their full potential. I genuinely care about childrens lives and aspirations, and
hope to enable them to become leaders in their own lives. Many of my previous
teachers have had a positive impact on my life and I have always considered them as
being role models. They have contributed to my interest in teaching and push me to be
a better teacher and individual.
Aside from my required coursework, there are many activities and experiences
that have contributed to my preparation for a classroom setting. Not only have I
participated in many classroom observations, I have also had multiple opportunities to
work alongside teachers and engage with students through semester-long placements
and internships. I have had the opportunity to work with children from various
backgrounds and ethnicities, which I believe has helped prepare me for the classroom
setting. My semester-long placements include grades kindergarten, first, and second
grade. I have also spent one semester working with preschool-aged children with
disabilities, as well as a semester-long internship working with preschoolers in a lowerincome district, and a semester-long placement where I worked with preschoolers in a
Reggio Emilia inspired preschool. My semester-long student teaching placement in a
kindergarten classroom has also contributed tremendously to my preparation. Aside
from major placements, I have also tutored first and second graders in literacy, where I
was responsible for creating lesson plans, implementing the lessons, testing, and
holding parent teacher conferences. I tutored in literacy for two semesters. I believe all
of these factors have prepared me to obtain an elementary teaching position.
There are many things that I hope to contribute to the field of education. I will
contribute my understanding of children and their motivations to adapt my instructions
and classroom activities. I intend to use my energy to build excitement into my lessons
in an effort to create a charged environment for students to feel positive about the

subjects I will be teaching. My empathetic personality, as well as sympathetic at times,

will help me to relate to the lives of my students.