• Why did you decide to apply for the internship?

     

    “I decided to apply for the internship program because it is designed for December graduates, which I was.  I didn’t have any plans for a job after graduation and most jobs available in January in my area are subbing positions, which are great, but I wanted something a little different.  The internship also had a lot of great catches (i.e. Free flights, free housing, AND getting paid). Being fresh into the working field, with college debt,  this all was music to my ears.  The experience was something I was interested in too because it was a different culture and communities in which I grew up.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    What sold you on coming to Alaska and/or accepting the internship position? 

     

    “After the interview, Nick and Dianna were in contact with me and provided me with a lot of information regarding the community I would be moving to. This allowed open communication with those I would work with and this helped me feel more comfortable about the move and community.  Knowing the internship was short-term, this allowed me to tell myself “if I don’t like it, it’s only 3 months and I would be able to go back home if I don’t enjoy it.”  But then also knowing that it could lead to a more permanent position was exciting to think about because it gave me the opportunity to merge into the school and get to know the routines, expectations, and the students.” - Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    What were your positions throughout your entire time with the school?

     

    “I started as the Migrant Interventionalist and I worked with K,1,2, and 4th graders.  I started in January and went until March, at which point I was offered to stay until the end of the school year and I agreed.  The next year, I was a 1st-grade teacher and had a classroom of 20 students.  The following school year, I got moved to Special Education teacher for grades 3-5.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    What was your favorite part of your internship?  

     

    “My favorite part of the internship was being able to work with all of the different grade levels.  It allowed me to pop in to all of the different classrooms and get to know a lot of the kiddos' faces which was a huge benefit for the years that followed because I knew a lot of my upcoming students.

    I also loved getting to travel and visit the other migrant interventionalist. It allowed me to see another rural town/village and get to see how our experiences differ.  It was also great to collaborate with (other interns) and gain different resources.” - Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    Why did you decide to stay and teach?

     

    “I decided to stay and teach because DES is a really great school and has great dynamics.  The staff is very welcoming and unpredictable (in a fun way) which gives us something to look forward to each day.  It’s a small community so everyone knows everyone, which makes it fun because then you can really get to know the students you are working with.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    What was your favorite teaching experience?

     

    “My favorite teaching experience was the 4th-grade reading groups I did during my migrant interventionalist days.  We had so many great conversations about the books we were reading and activities to go along with them. We got to read The Wishing Tree, afterward, we made our own wishing tree where we got to write our wishes down and all the 4th graders (and the teacher) hung them on a tree.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019

     

    What was your most memorable moment?

    “My most memorable teaching experience was during the year I was teaching 1st grade…we went on Spring Break and never came back. It was hard for me because that class was the first class that I got to call my own and I never got to finish out their 1st-grade year with them.

    Would you recommend this to other teacher graduates.”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary

     

    Would you recommend this program to others?

    "Yes, I would recommend this to other teacher graduates. This program is outstanding and provides so many opportunities….and Dianna and Robyn are ROCKSTARS!!”- Katie Henney, Slippery Rock University 2019, Internship placement Dillingham Elementary