Sherry Petty, PhD

Vita

What attracted you to UNI and the College of Education?
My journey in the field of education began at the University of Northern Iowa where I completed my BA in early childhood and elementary education. I felt well-prepared as a beginning teacher because of the education I received at UNI. I also have wonderful memories about my time at UNI! UNI is well-known for the high-quality education they provide to pre-service and in-service teachers. I believe that this is the place to be if you plan to pursue a career in the field of education.

Describe an experience that reinforces why you enjoy what you do. 
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. I loved seeing how excited my students were when they learned something new or met a goal they set. I want to share my passion for education with pre-service teachers so they can also find joy in working with their students.

What drove your interest in your selected discipline?
I was drawn to the field of education because I loved working with young children when I was in high school. I started my career as a general education elementary teacher, but decided I wanted to pursue a master’s degree in special education after I had the opportunity to work with an amazing special education teacher who became a mentor to me.

What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy of teaching for higher education is focused on three core areas: creating a learning environment where all individuals feel valued and respected, setting high expectations for students, and promoting student engagement. Creating a safe and positive learning environment has always been a priority for me as a K-12 educator and through my work in higher education. It is important that students of all ages feel like they are respected and valued members of the classroom community.

In higher education, I am intentional about creating a space where multiple perspectives can be shared and students are able to express their opinions related to a variety of topics. I set an expectation for and model respectful dialogue with the goal of understanding one another even when expressing different opinions.

I set high expectations for pre-service teachers in the teacher education program. Students are preparing to be future educators, so I expect that they will come to class ready to focus and engage in the content and activities planned for each class session. I expect that students will be respectful of others and their perspectives, and that they will be ethical and professional. I communicate my expectations with students in the course syllabus, through discussions in class, and through rubrics created for course assignments.

Student engagement in the classroom is key because students learn best when they are actively engaged in their own learning. Some ways that I promote engagement for students in higher education are by modeling and implementing effective strategies that can also be used in the K-12 setting, integrating technology, and providing opportunities for students to collaborate with each other. I will focus on creating a positive learning environment for all students, setting high expectations, and promoting active engagement as I continue my work in higher education.

What do you hope students learn from you?
There are many things that students need to know as they begin their career in education. I hope they learn that teaching can be both rewarding and challenging. I really want them to learn about the importance of building a classroom community.