Friday, January 28, 2011

Formally introducing Lindsey Deetz

            My name is Lindsey Munro Deetz and I am currently a junior at Cal State San Marcos. I am majoring in liberal arts with a math concentration. I aspire to one day become a geometry or algebra teacher in middle or high school. I was born and raised in San Diego, California. I attended Morning Creek Elementary school from preschool through 3rd grade in Carmel Mountain Ranch. After my parents divorced I moved with my mom and brother to Rancho Bernardo. I finished my elementary school years at Turtleback Elementary. I then attended Bernardo Heights Middle School followed by Rancho Bernardo High School. I graduated class of 2007. I was appointed to be an academic tutor my senior year of high school and spent my last period of the day tutoring kids mainly in geometry or algebra. I absolutely fell in love with it, however I did not realize it at the time. Starting out at Cal State San Marcos I went into nursing because my mom was a nurse. Boy was that a mistake. Once I realized that it was not the profession for me, I thought back to being a tutor in high school and how much I enjoyed it. It was not until my sophmore year of college that I realized I wanted to be a math teacher. I currently accepted a position for the San Diego County Office of Education as a Teacher Assistant for a court school. The school is called Breaking Cycles and it deals with probation and the San Diego County school system. As it may be challenging at times, I absolutely love it.
              I would like to think I am on par with technology. I tend to learn things very fast with technology with little or no assistance. As I am mainly a Windows PC user, MAC is fairly easy for me to navigate through as well. As I begin to work for the county, I realize that I still have a lot of learning to do. I have recently been introduced to the Smart Board.... which still amazes me of it's capabilities. I do not know how to work it yet, but I am hoping to learn soon. The only struggle I have had with technology is Microsoft Excel. As I was able to pass the CCR, it still does confuse me. I am however proficient in Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. I am very excited to learn about what else is out there in the world of technology.
               The mission statement for the Cal State San Marcos Department of Education is very meaningful and powerful. To be a great educator I believe that one must accept and embrace diversity. We live in a country that is the land of the free with no racial, cultural, or social boundaries. Living in the country allows us to see diversity but in order to be a great teacher diversity must be welcomed, fostered, and most of all be accepted.  Educators I believe should be passionate about what they do and they should also have a passion to learn. I have a great passion to continue learning because I know that great teachers never stop learning. This is also embedded in the mission statement. Lastly, great teachers must be able to adapt to new technological standards of learning and growth. The world we live in is constantly changing and producing advanced technology. While some people are afraid of it, teachers must learn to accept it. This is because it will not only benefit themselves, but their future students as well. I believe that students who become truly educated accept diversity, have a passion to learn, and are aware of the benefits that technology can bring. Students who reach this goal need great teachers to educate them. This all starts with me and everyone else who aspires to be future teachers one day.