Central Michigan University

First class: Recent CMU grad named state's best student teacher

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Topics in this story: Awards, College of Education and Human Services, Education and schools, People, Teacher Education and Professional Development

December 2007 CMU graduate Lauren Haynes (in pink vest), the 2008 Michigan Association of Teacher Educators Outstanding Student Teacher/Intern of the Year, and some of her kindergarten students show off the pet worms they studied as part of a classroom lesson during Haynes' Fall 2007 student teaching experience at Orville C. Krause Elementary School in Armada.

Photos courtesy of Lauren Haynes

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Media Contact(s):

Lindsay Allen
989-774-7327

Program Contact(s):

Lauren Haynes
laurenmhaynes@gmail.com

Larry Corbett
989-774-4411

Robert Sunday
810-938-5592

A Central Michigan University student teacher's dedication to positively impacting the lives of young students has earned her state's highest honor.

The Michigan Association of Teacher Educators recently named December 2007 CMU graduate and Almont native Lauren Haynes as the 2008 Outstanding Student Teacher/Intern of the Year. She will receive a $1,000 cash prize and an expedited interview with the Michigan school district of her choice.

During the fall of 2007, Haynes worked as a student teacher at Orville C. Krause Elementary School in Armada, completing eight-week placements in the kindergarten classroom of Jody Andrews, who nominated her for the award, and in the first-grade classroom of Jennifer Bovenschen.

Months later, Haynes still fondly reflects on her time with her students.

"I put my whole heart into everything I did for those kids," she said. "I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in my classroom. For 16 weeks, I woke up every day just to teach. I melted into every minute of it."

At the end of her time there, she was inspired by her students' hugs and loving words.

"It's the best feeling because I know that they didn't just love me for the lessons I taught or the stars I drew on top of their papers," she said. "They loved me, too, for all the times I zipped their coats, talked to them about their lost puppies, all the times I just loved them. It is so overwhelmingly warming to know that I mattered so much to so many of them, and all I did was do what I love to do - teach."

CMU Student Teacher Coordinator Robert Sunday observed Haynes on a regular basis and enjoyed watching her close connection to her students and the ease she displayed in working with them.

During her student teaching, Haynes (in tan suit) used "Magic C," the kindergarten rabbit puppet, to assist with the class' Read Well reading program and Handwriting Without Tears writing program, introducing reading and writing concepts that coincide with the letter "C."




"Most teachers refer to the children as 'class' or 'students,'" he said. "Lauren always referred to her students as 'friends.' This one word perfectly illustrates the atmosphere that permeated the classroom: a friendly, nurturing place for children to grow and learn."

A total of 55 student teachers statewide applied for the award by sending in a lesson plan and a 30-minute video of themselves teaching the plan to students in their classroom. Haynes' lesson, "Wiggly, Squiggly Worm," consisted of a hands-on science lesson during which kindergarten students explored how environmental variables affect the responses of worms.

According to CMU Director of Student Teaching Larry Corbett, who has seen Haynes' video, "Lauren is creative, has excellent planning and organization skills, has the ability to teach at the level of her students, and is enthusiastic."

During her time at CMU, Haynes completed a major in elementary education, with minors in classroom reading, integrated science and early child development. She also fulfilled a two-year volunteer placement at Rosebush Elementary School, occasionally serving as a substitute teacher.

Corbett said Haynes' award also is indicative of the success of the program from which she graduated.

"It is an outstanding honor for Lauren to be selected for this award," he said. "It also notes that CMU is one of the premier teacher preparation programs in Michigan. This is the second time in three years that a student teacher from CMU has won this award."

Haynes is the daughter of John and Judy Haynes of Almont and is a graduate of Almont High School. For more information about Haynes and her student teaching experience, visit her classroom Web site at http://laurenmhaynes.googlepages.com.

Two additional CMU students, Mount Pleasant senior Andrea Frear and Stanton senior Shannon Powell, received honorable mentions in the competition. Frear spent her student teaching experience teaching Spanish at Mount Pleasant High School, while Powell worked with seventh-grade math students at Central Montcalm Middle School.