2006
Features
9
Hobart finds passion as science student teacher
u H illary KRiPPAEHNE_______
Staff Reporter
During the second week
of school, student teacher
Gabe Hobart was a little
embarrassed when he
couldn't find the pencil
sharpener in the classroom
but that doesn't overshadow
his excitement about
teaching his newfound
passion, physics. He is
student teaching with science
teacher Julie McDevitt while
attending classes at George
Fox University.
Cooperating teacher: Julie
McDevitt
College attending: George
Fox University
Interests: Skiing, reading,
playing frisbee golf and
working on the house
Family: Wife Lisa, 2-year-
old Zander, two dogs
Teaching Physics: "I find
it interesting and fun to talk
about and teach. It's valuable
that people understand. It's
an important subject and
fun!"
On why he began
to teach: "I decided to
start teaching because
my previous career as an
engineer was not fulfilling.
I found it wasn't important
to me. Teaching is important
and deserves my full
attention and effort."
College: "I am currently
attending George Fox
University and am working
on my Masters of Arts in
Teaching. I got my Bachelors
Degree in Mechanical
Engineering from Oregon
State University. Go
Betzelberger sports unique name
m R ussell H ill ____________
Staff Reporter
Student teacher Adam
Betzelberger, a native of
Beaverton, Ore. hopes his
future as a teacher will
help out students in a fun,
easy way, yet still have
educational value. As a big
fan of sports, Betzelberger
enjoys a nice game of
basketball anytime he can fit
it in. After a long day at work
he likes to watch a movie,
such as "Gladiator," and eat
pizza.
College: Oregon State
University
Subject: Ancient and
American History
Cooperating Teacher:
Tonya Dailey
Reason for teaching:
" I want to teach because I
have a love for history, but
also because I think high
school students have a hard
enough time as it is just
growing up, and as a teacher
I hope to make that process
a little more bearable." As
far as he knows he is the
first Betzelberger in the
educational field. "I just enjoy
ancient and American history.
I'm a big history dork."
Goals he would like
to achieve as a teacher: "I
would love to help make
supposedly difficult subjects
more accessible for students.
In short this means making
the subject more relevant to
high school students' lives.
The world has changed
a great deal over the past
50 years, and change is
happening now faster than
ever. Helping students
connect with the world
around them is my main
goal."
Free time: He enjoys
nothing better then a Round
Table pizza with pepperoni
and sausage. He also loves
to watch "Family Guy," and
if you catch him on the right
day he is able to pull off some
of the voices. Right now, the
only place he would teach
is West Linn. When he gets
a chance, he likes to go for a
swim or play board games.
He also has a passion for
basketball. "I love basketball.
I've played since I was 4-
years-old. I played at Sunset
High and after I graduated
I played on a pretty much
daily basis in college at the
gym."
Before his teaching career.
"I graduated with a degree
in Liberal Studies [from
Oregon State University]
with an emphasis on history
and economics. I took
AdamBetzelberger, social studies
student teacher, admits to being
a big "history dork." He likes to
be called Mr. B and feels that
his unique name gives him an
advantage.
Photo by Sachie Hopkins
multiple classes on ancient
history, political science and
international trade. I greatly
enjoyed my time there, as I
played basketball and Halo 2
quite often."
His advantage: Mr. B., as
he likes to be called to make
it easier on the students, feels
he as an advantage over other
teachers because of his last
name. "My last name without
a doubt is what makes me
different from other teachers.
I know there will never be
two Mr. Betzelberger's where
I work."
Beavers!"
The challenges of
teaching: "It's hard to
remember 150 student's
names right away. I have
an uncertain status in the
classroom. I am not sure if
I can say, 'Yes, you may use
the restroom.' I am afraid
to make mistakes. Through
feedback, I am overcoming
the challenges."
Favorite part about
teaching: "I love it when
students finally understand
a concept. The, 'ah ha,'
moments make teaching very
enjoyable."
Between high school
and the present: "I went
to Oregon State University
and received my Bachelors
Degree in Mechanical
Engineering. Then, I worked
as an engineer. I got laid off
the job, but found another.
After quitting that job, I was
a stay at home dad for a
year."
During summer vacation:
"I took classes. My favorite
part of the summer was
when I went to Lincoln City
with my dogs and family."
Interests outside of
classroom: "While I am
not teaching, I enjoy skiing,
reading and working on the
house. I also enjoy playing
Frisbee golf. There was a park
nearby my house in Corvallis
and it had a Frisbee golf
course. My friend suggested
we go play and I found that
I like playing. It is nice that it
is cheaper than regular golf.
My favorite kind of music
is 90's rock, but I listen to a
little bit of everything. My
favorite bands are Metallica,
Tenacious D and Jack Black.
Home Depot is my favorite
place to shop because they
have fun toys. I like to build
stuff, so Home Depot has
useful supplies."
About his family life: "I
have a 2-year-old, a wife, and
two puppies from the pound.
The dogs' names are Foster
and Anakin."
On what makes him
different from other
teachers: "I didn't always
know I wanted to be a
teacher. I tried a bunch of
different activities before
finding my new passion,
teaching."
On what he was like in
high school: "I was a track
star. I did shot put, discus,
javelin and the 1600 relay.
I was also a homecoming
prince. I became a prince
by election. I was also the
shy chubby kid from the
country."
Feelings about teaching:
"So far it's been great. I've
really enjoyed working
with Mrs. McDevitt and the
students. I love being part of
the high school world!"
Self-professed nerd learning
IliteBIOIg pins Stiff________■
continued from page 8
Her family life: "I have
a really small family. It's
basically just my parents and
me. But I do have five cats
and one toy poodle."
She wants to be
remembered: "I want
students to say 'Oh ya! Do
you remember that one year
when we had that really
cool student teacher Miss
Blakemore?' I want to make
an impact on my students'
lives."
One thing she want
students to know about her:
"I'm really dedicated to my
work."
How she's holding up:
"I don't feel like I can judge
myself against other teachers
right now because I know I
don't hold a candle to them.
I am still learning. But I am
a self-professed nerd and I
make no bones about it."
Whitten brings life experience, knowledge to classroom
u S ydney M ac N aughton _____
Staff Reporter
As a psychology major
and book lover, Carol
Whitten, English and
journalism student teacher,
brings a wealth of experience
and knowledge to her
students. Having spent years
owning her own business,
tutoring, and teaching, she
has explored other parts of
the world, gaining necessary
experience in life.
Cooperating teachers:
Mario Schwarz, Ann Breyne
College: Lewis & Clark
College
Interests: gardening,
writing, listening to music
and reading
Wants to become a
teacher because: "I think
I've always been a teacher;
I'm just making it formal.
I think teaching is a higher
calling. I love watching
people grow. I also like
participating in conversations
Carol Whitten, a student teacher
from Lewis & Clark, is teaching
both English and journalism.
Photo by Cole Fiala
with high school students.
We all work to shape our
world, and everyone's voice
is important. I decided to go
become a teacher three years
ago, but I've been thinking
about it since tutoring my
husband's son before that."
Chose to teach this
subject because: "I believe
we all have a story to tell,
and understanding happens
at the intersection of stories.
Communication is an
enormous part of life. To
do well in life, we need to
communicate well. I always
love a good story."
Interesting classroom
story: "I taught journalism
for a year and a half in a
classroom the size of a closet.
We had no computers for
the first three months. All of
my students were constantly
shifting, and all of them
had English as their second
language. My class period
was just 30 minutes, and we
somehow managed to put
out two newspapers."
Different from other
teachers: "Every teacher is
unique and has something to
offer. Each will touch some
students more then others."
She also drives an ancient
chocolate Volvo covered in
about 400 bumper stickers
and she moved here from
Texas.
Before teaching: "I was a
garden designer for 10 years.
I enjoyed the artistic side of
it; it was like painting with
plants. I was a psychology
student at Baylor University
in Texas and a philosophy
student in Minnesota."
Advice to students
interested in teaching: "Go
for it! Figure out what you
feel passionately about and
teach that. Before diving
into teaching, take a break
and explore some other
pockets of the world and gain
experience."
Family life: "I am married,
and my husband, a musician,
has three sons that are over
18. He is older than me, and
we are thinking of having
a baby. We live together in
Southeast Portland in an
old house. It's older than
my car!" She has two dogs:
a border collie named Shiva
and a samoyed named Sitka.
They are both about seven.
Hobbies: "I spend my
time gardening, writing,
and reading. I read about
five books at a time. My
favorite genres are mysteries,
nonfiction, social criticism
and short fiction. I like folk
rock, jazz and classical music.