Erin Summerhays

Experience
I was a middle school/high school English teacher and yearbook adviser at Denver (Iowa) Community Schools for the past seven years. Before that, I was a high school English teacher and yearbook adviser at Wilton Community Schools.

What attracted you to UNI and the College of Education?
Ever since I started attending UNI for my Bachelor's degree, I have been in love! It is such a great school, and I have always enjoyed all of the people that I have interacted with over the years!

Describe an experience that reinforces why you enjoy what you do. 
It is so rewarding getting to help students and see the moment when everything "clicks" for them! While this is a very different setting for me, I am excited that I will still get to be helping students!

What drove your interest in your selected discipline?
I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a small child! I was always an "advanced" reader and really enjoyed English classes growing up!

What is your teaching philosophy?
The guiding tenet of my teaching philosophy is that all students have the right to a high-quality, engaging educational experience in a safe, open classroom community. I want my students to walk away from my classroom feeling three things: 1. That I care about them as a whole person, not just academically. 2. That they were able to learn and grow educationally. 3. That the overall classroom experience was supportive and positive.

What do you hope students learn from you?
I hope students can learn what it's "really" like to be a classroom teacher now!