May 5 is National Teacher Appreciation Day. Blackhawk Technical College offers a variety of ways for students to begin their journey toward a career in teaching or supporting teachers. To mark this day in honor of teachers, here are a couple examples of Blackhawk students who are living their teaching dreams.
Returning to ECE
“Ever since an early age I have had a passion for caring for others! I have always pictured myself as either a nurse or a teacher,” Emily Mackinnon said. “My teaching career has been a journey!”
Mackinnon, a lead 3K teacher at a center in Fort Atkinson, is currently working toward an associate degree in Blackhawk’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program.
“My main experience is in special education. Some shocks from reentering the ECE field are how the generations have changed so much from when I was first in the field back in 2011. One thing that still holds true is the love the children share for you,” she shared. “They show me many ways they care, how smart they are, and how emotionally attuned they are.”
Mackinnon is no stranger to Blackhawk, as she previously earned Certified Nursing Assistant and Registered Behavior Technician certifications.
“I have attended Blackhawk previously, and I have always enjoyed how caring the instructors are. They truly want you to succeed and are present to help you along,” she said. “I think Blackhawk is a great place to start. I love it and recommend it to anyone.”
Career change
Kimberly Grosenick is a Blackhawk student who was looking for a change.
“I have been working as a paraprofessional in a 4K setting, which I love, but I knew that I wanted to do something more. After working in my position for six years, I realized that teaching was what I needed to do for my career change,” Grosenick said.
While she wanted to go back to school, she also wanted to keep her job at a Beloit elementary school.
“I am attending Blackhawk due to the classes being online, so I can still work at my current job,” Grosenick shared. “I had looked into other schools, but if I needed help with schoolwork or guidance, there would be a place to go that is close to home.”
She was able to transfer credits from her previous bachelor’s degree and experience from her current job to earn credit for prior learning at Blackhawk. That credit will help Grosenick advance to University of Wisconsin-Whitewater sooner than she expected, she said.
Find out more about Blackhawk’s associate degree programs in Early Childhood Education and Foundations of Teacher Education.