Casey Parks WNMU-GGSC MAT – Secondary Candidate 2003 Teach For America Corps Member Hello, my name is Casey Parks and I am a first year teacher here in the Gallup McKinley County School District. I was accepted in Teach for America shortly before my graduation from Kansas State University in December 2002. I received my placement to come to New Mexico, packed my bags in June, and set off for the real world. During the summer of 2003 I chose to attend Western New Mexico University over UNM – Gallup for my graduate classes in education. The choice was easy for me – the WNMU presenters impressed me with their perceptible dedication and compassion. During July of 2003 I received a job offer from Gallup Central High School teaching social studies, specifically U.S. History. I am currently teaching two U.S. History classes, and one economics class. I am in a unique position as an educator at Central High School – because we are an alternative school, my day is set up a bit differently than other teachers. I teach 4 periods straight through from 8:30 AM to 1:15 PM. At this time the majority of our students leave school to go to work or a volunteer position. Because we do not offer electives to our students, they earn elective credits through work-study and volunteer programs. My teaching situation is challenging in that we deal with extreme attendance problems. It in not unlikely to have 10% attendance on an average day, and I have even had several classes where zero students showed up. My involvement with Western New Mexico University has definitely added to the enjoyment of my experience in Gallup. The class I took in the fall semester, and the 2 I am currently taking have had a huge impact on my teaching experience. I pick up strategies and projects at a Wednesday night class which I can immediately implement the following day in my high school classroom. Also, the professors I have developed relationships with at WNMU have had a profound affect on my teaching. My professors express a genuine concern for my performance and growth in the classroom, and I always know I have someone to turn to when things get rough in the classroom, or outside of it. I am extremely happy to have joined Teach for America, and via that organization ended up in Gallup, NM, and at Western New Mexico University. The stresses and challenges posed by the move to a new area, and my first true job, have been mediated by my involvement with TFA and WNMU. My experience over the past 7 months would have been considerably more difficult had I not have been involved with these two organizations. Thank you, Casey Parks