When one decides on the career path they want to take, they must go through the proper training to get to that specific career. In the case of a teacher, students studying to teach must go through a variety of programs and classes, one of which is student teaching. This week, we have the privilege of interviewing one of the student teachers at Pleasant Valley, Sean Dermody.
Mr. Dermody is a student teacher in the gym this semester, and is thrilled to be student teaching at Pleasant Valley. He currently studies at St. Ambrose University, and is studying Physical Education and Health in hopes of becoming a gym teacher. “I want to be a gym teacher because I think exercise is really important and it all starts with education,” says Dermody, “I see some people now and I feel like they weren’t properly educated physically and I want to make that impact on the community.”
While Mr. Dermody is teaching almost all of his classes, he still has to be monitored by his professors at St. Ambrose. In order to get his teaching license, he has to go through this specific program and then he can finally graduate and go on to teach gym. “The supervisors come in to make sure I’m doing the correct things I’m supposed to be doing,” explains Dermody, “If they came in here and I had no control over my class, or if I was just sitting around, they would fail me, so that’s why they have to come in.”
While not a full time teacher yet, Dermody has still made his impact on the students of Pleasant Valley. Senior Claire Thomsen has gym class with Mr. Dermody, and is sad to see him leave. “I enjoy having him in class he’s easy to relate to because he’s young,” says Thomsen, “he brings unique games, like bacteria ball, to the table and it’s been a fresh vibe that we haven’t had in gym class this year.” Mr. Dermody will be leaving Pleasant Valley on Friday, December 8th, and plans to go out and be an elementary or high school gym teacher in the Quad City area. Even if he doesn’t end up at Pleasant Valley, the students and staff still wish him well in his endeavours.
