who I amMy name is Jennifer Callaway and I have been teaching Business Education at Niangua since 2012.
I am a native of the area. I graduated from Niangua in 1997. I then began my post-secondary education at Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU). I obtained a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting and Computer Information Systems in 2001. I began working in the Public Accounting sector compiling income tax returns and monthly financial statements for several businesses. I then moved to the Private Financial sector for the next 10 years working with the development and financial support of Home Healthcare Software. Having always wanted to be a teacher I started back to school in 2011 to obtain a Masters in the Art of Education from MSU. I graduated in May 2014. When I am not in the classroom I spend all my time with the family. Our oldest daughter, Jaycee, graduated from Niangua High School and received her Finance degree. Our middle child, Ashtyn, is very involved in sports. We spend most weekends in the car taxing her from one gym to another. Weston, the youngest, is a daredevil and can be catching air on his dirt bike or drifting on his four-wheeler on a daily basis. My husband, Clint, and I have been married for 24 years. He is also a graduate from Niangua and yes...we were high school sweethearts. |
philosophyMy goal as a teacher is to teach my students to be independent, active, and engaging learners. I hope to do this by allowing them opportunities to explore and explain their thoughts and ideas in manner that reflects the lessons that I am teaching. I hope to address all of my students’ learning styles by incorporating actives that are engaging and creative. I think that technology is an important tool in accomplishing this goal and produce students that can function in real world they will one day face.
As a teacher, my responsibility is to keep current on the technological advances that are occurring in the world. This will allow me to be up to date and connected with the needs of my students. I think that students today are growing up in a world that has information at their finger tips. There is no longer a need for as many text books, when they have this information available to them through technology. I hope to be able to challenge my students by incorporating the use of technology. The needs of today’s students are based on what they know and that is technology. I hope to reach my students on their level. I think that by being in touch with the way they enjoy learning will enable me to be a better teacher. Also, I hope to use technology to make better connections with the parents of my students. I think that the success of my students will depend on good communication with their parents. Most parents are very willing to help their children if they know what they need to do to make their children successful. I think that keeping students informed by using a blog or a website will make for a better learning environment for my students. I hope to be a leader in my school by taking on the challenge of encouraging my co-workers and administration to take an active approach to technology in the classroom. As educators I feel that is our duty to have high expectations from our students, parents, co-workers and administrators. I think it is the teachers job to give students the skills and confidence to be successful in school and prepare them for a real future through technology. |