Yes, as a Fighting Bees student-athlete in Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Chloe Gunn '19 enjoyed the challenge of a race.
As a graduate who recently crossed the finish line, she is thankful for the relationships she created with coaches, professors, and peers, all which continue to propel her forward as she runs toward a brand-new challenge.
Chloe was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education, with an English endorsement, May 11 at the St. Ambrose University 2019 Spring Commencement Ceremony. She graduated magna cum laude and ready to launch a teaching career in El Salvador.
In her last semester at SAU, Chloe signed a two-year contract to teach ninth-grade English at the American School of San Salvador.
"It will be an adventure," she said.
"I have never been to Central or South America. The school is very impressive, and it provides a project-based core curriculum and focuses on service learning," she added.
Teaching abroad was not something Chloe considered until Richard Robertson, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Education, told her about an international job fair. She planned to attend the fair and to prepare, she began researching opportunities and open positions. "I started responding to emails, and I interviewed for a couple of schools via Skype. I ended up signing this contract before heading to the job fair," she said.
Early in her academic studies, Chloe planned to earn a degree in elementary education. She changed her mind after she began taking English courses. "I have a passion for writing and reading comprehension. I realized I wanted to share those important skills with my students."
Chloe spent her last semester doing just that, while student teaching Honors English at North Scott High School in Eldridge, Iowa.
"I got to know my students really well, which helped me tailor my lessons to more of what they liked. I had a lot of fun with that," she said
But first, Chloe had to get the hang of teaching three levels of Honors English and occasionally teaching a literature class, too. "There were a lot of things going on in each class," she said. "And it was a true test in management. It was something I had to work on my last semester, something every new teacher must work on. But, it reinforced my love of teaching," she said.
In addition to participating in cross country and track and field, Chloe was a member of the education honor society Kappa Delta Pi, and a Student Success Center writing tutor. All those experiences, combined with her academic studies, helped Chloe grow personally and professionally.
"Through the high expectations of my professors, I felt I could push myself academically and develop as a teacher.
"I had many mentors, from my coaches to my professors, who also helped me grow my interpersonal skills so I can be approachable to my students and create relationships with them, too," Chloe said.
"It showed in my student teaching and of course, helped me with my job interviews as well," she added.
Chloe will travel to El Salvador on July 22. The school is providing her on-campus housing and she will live within a community of fellow teachers. She is excited, and reflective, too.
"I will miss my professors and my coaches, and I had a lot of support from my teammates and peers," Chloe said.
"It is nice to be surrounded by people who are not critical of my decision to go abroad but are interested in how they can support me."
"Through the high expectations of my professors, I felt I could push myself academically and develop as a teacher. I had many mentors, from my coaches to my professors, who also helped me grow my interpersonal skills so I can be approachable to my students and create relationships with them, too."
Chloe Gunn '19
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