With the variety of jobs and internships that the Elizabethtown College student body holds, it is important to highlight students who show exemplary ambition and drive to accomplish their goals. Senior Brooke Seislove is not lacking in these departments and has already left a legacy before post-grad school employment. This week, The Etownian took a dive into Seislove’s contributions to central Pennsylvania schools through substituting and student teaching.
Seislove, who graduated from Etown with an Early Childhood Education degree, is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Special Education at the college. A former peer mentor and a current member of Melica, Seislove began her student teaching journey through the Etown Education department’s placement process, which involves three-week rotating student teaching assignments in schools all around central Pennsylvania. Seislove has a natural heart for children, evident in the conversation that unfolded in the Blue Bean for this article.
“Instead of looking at student teaching as necessary work, I look at it as practice. Schools need substitutes,” she said.
When asked why she was drawn to teaching, Seislove thought for a moment.
“Something I heard that really stuck with me is that kids who are loved at home go to school to learn,” she said. “Kids who are not loved at home go to school to be loved. I once had a student tell me, ‘You’re my best friend!’ That was a beautiful moment. That’s why I do it.”
Seislove also discussed her newfound relationships with the teachers she works alongside. “We share stories. We discuss curriculum. I love talking to them. And it helps shape my view of where I want to work and at what grade level,” she said.
As a student herself, Seislove expressed that the uncertainty of beginning to substitute teach was a risk worth taking, as the experience has been valuable in her growth as an instructor.
As she began taking higher level education classes her junior year, she expanded her responsibilities and began moving from student aide to paid substitute teaching at multiple schools. Using an app called Frontline, Seislove substitute teaches for a whole school day twice a week when a local school is in need of an instructor or during the summers and breaks. She has repeatedly put in hours teaching in classrooms across the Manheim, Elizabethtown, Columbia, Lancaster and Dauphin school districts, for students from kindergarten to sixth grade and, of course, special ed classes.
“[The placements] just kind of happened to traverse all these grades. Academically, the substitute teaching put my foot in the door at all of these schools. I get to learn and experience different curriculums at different grade levels in different school districts,” she said.
Her work ethic is admirable. Despite only seeing students for a couple days before moving on, her repeated presence in the classroom fosters relationships with students and teachers while also preparing her to become a teacher herself.
“That’s what I love about substitute teaching,” Seislove said. “As a younger substitute teacher, I feel like I can build a relationship with these kids. I can understand them. Like, there is a level of ‘I know what you’re talking about.’ For students to feel cared about and valued, that’s the kind of teacher I want to be.”
Education majors of any kind should take note of Seislove’s work ethic and dedication. Substitute teaching is practice for the future but a practice for the future that has the potential to positively impact so many children’s lives in the process.
