FIFTY-TWO STOPS AND THE STREETS IN BETWEEN: A STUDENT TEACHER’S JOURNEY

Fifty-two Stops and the Streets in Between: A Student Teacher’s Journey is a podcast that host James @chicagostudentteacher) created to help all of those who are considering — or on their way to — becoming a teacher.

“There are so many things I have learned along the way,” James says, “and so many fears I have going forward. It’s my goal to share all of this with you in real time. My plan is to interview those who interact with a student teacher to get their insight and suggestions to be successful. I want them to tell me ALL the things I don't know I should ask, and when they do, we will all learn together. It’s my desire that the episodes are unscripted, raw, and real. I hope you join me in the last leg of my university education as a new student teacher! Comments and suggestions are welcome, and if you want to be a guest . . . lets do it!"

CURRENT EPISODE

Episode 3: Alicia Thompson

“On this episode,” James writes, “I have the privilege to speak to fellow student teacher Alicia Thompson as we both unpack our first day of school with students in a high school setting. Alicia lives in Connecticut and is in the same situation as I am, trying to balance school, family, and finances. Alicia graciously reached out to me in an email and said, 'I would love to connect!' I am super stoked to be able to invite you into our conversation about our experiences so far, as well as our joys and fears going forward. As usual, I invite your feedback and input; you can email me at ChicagoStudentTeacher@gmail.com.”

Alicia Thompson recently started on a journey to become an educator. She is a theater arts storyteller, playwright, mentor and TEDx speaker. Alicia has used her artistry to create customized workshops and performances that uplift and empower others. She founded Artistry is Ministry (AIM) Productions as a pathway to address social issues, educate and inspire others for change, and build youth self-confidence. Alicia also integrates the Principles of Kingian Nonviolence in her work as a certified teaching artist and method of self-care. Her passion for community involvement has led her to serve on various boards and councils. She is a member of the Connecticut Family School Partnerships Advisory Council (CFSP), National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), and Parents Supporting Educational Excellence (Parent SEE).

Find the episode archive below.

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ABOUT JAMES

I am from the tiny town of East Troy, Wisconsin, class of 1990. My public school experience was not good. I hated school, and school hated me. I wasn't a bad kid, just a quiet kid who sat in the back row and didn’t know how to advocate for himself. It wasn't until I lost my job in 2011 that I started going to university, at age 40, for the first time. Now, nine years later, I’m on the last leg of my college experience at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and will graduate in December 2021 with a master’s of Arts in Special Education - Learning Behavior Specialist-1. For the last four years, I was a paraprofessional in Illinois School District 7. In my previous life, I worked for 24 years with Yum Brands/Pizza Hut in every role, from dishwasher to training manager, where I contributed to the onboarding and training of management candidates for the 34 stores that made up the Chicago region.

I am married and have two boys. My son Jonah has been my ultimate motivation and forced me to advocate for students with special needs in a public school setting. Next is Lukas, who wants to navigate his own way, independent of his brother, and is currently at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago. As a parent, I had trouble communicating Jonah's needs to his school. It wasn't until I went to NEIU to become a SPED teacher that I was able to use "teacher language" to get him the services and assistance he needed, but my mind keeps telling me that I should have done more. That voice is now proactive and helping others: parents, students, teachers, myself, and hopefully you.

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EPISODE ARCHIVE

Episode 2: Ms. Venus Shannon

This week James interviews his principal mentor, Ms. Venus Shannon, principal at Zion Central Middle School in Zion, Illinois. Ms. Shannon has sage advice for student teachers beginning on this final chapter as we enter classrooms and orient ourselves to the school and its culture and climate. Sit back, relax and listen in.

Episode 1: An Introduction to James

This debut episode is an introduction to James, where he shares his vision of why he is doing the podcast and what he hopes to contribute to all those on a student teaching journey. As an outline for the episodes, he plans to use his SPED 512 syllabus as a guide for the next 16 weeks. Let's wonder together and share the experience!