PERB LETTER
Dear PERB Panelist,
I would like to begin by extending my gratitude for your presence here today, taking time out of your busy schedules to listen to my student teaching experience this past semester. My name is Kyle Woodruff, and I am a Secondary Education major with a concentration in Marine Biology. I entered college as a Marine Biology major with a passion for marine animals but realized on the journey that my desire was to teach about the wondrous world of the ocean rather than to study it in a lab. Ever since, I have dedicated my college career to learning the different strategies to make commotion about the ocean. This presentation will be centered around my student teaching experience at Biddeford High School in a Marine Science classroom.
My journey to teaching was a bit of a bumpy ride. When I was a kid, I was constantly changing my mind about my future career; first the goal was to be a firefighter, then it was an astronaut, then a zookeeper, and various more. Becoming a teacher was never on the radar because I wanted to be completely different from my father who has been teaching in our local school system for over 15 years. However, by freshmen year in high school I had planted my feet in the world of science and decided that my dream career was to be working one-on-one with Marine Mammals. Throughout my educational journey I had always enjoyed learning about the different sciences, excelled in different science course, and had a great love for animals, meaning that this pathway seemed like the perfect fit. With this mindset I entered college as a Marine Biology major.
Although I was enjoying Marine Biology courses freshmen year, there was something left to be desired. One day after a three-hour lab, I found a YouTube video that critiqued the biased grading schema in the United States and was immediately enthralled. The moment that video finished, I dropped everything that I was doing and typed out a detailed rough draft of the strategies I would use to manage a classroom. From that moment on I knew that I wanted to teach marine biology and change the way science was taught. During the middle of Sophomore year, I officially declared Secondary Education as my new major with a concentration in Marine Biology. This choice allowed me to start exploring the world of teaching without compromising my interests in marine biology.
Switching my major has provided me with a multitude of opportunities that have shaped my who I as a teacher and as a person. As a teacher, I have learned the importance of creating relationships with your students and creating equitable learning opportunities for students walking different paths of life. With the help of all of my professors, I have been able to create a toolbox of diverse strategies and resources that reflect my teaching philosophy. Outside of UNE, I have been able to exercise the lessons I have been taught as a traveling instructor and camp counselor for Mystic Aquarium. My time as an educator, although short, has been a powerful learning experience and I can’t wait to see the wonders it has in store.
Once again, thank you for dedicating your time today and giving me the opportunity to dive into this past semester with my fellow marine explorers!
Just Keep Swimming,
Kyle Woodruff
