“How could you not love getting to spend your day with a Murch kiddo?”
 This year the Kaufman Wing was hit with a ray of California sunshine in the form of new pre-K teacher Emily Stewart. This high-energy gal tells us what it takes for today’s “kiddos” to plug in, shake it up, and believe in themselves.
So you’re a “Cali Girl”?
I grew up in Southern California and dearly miss the sun. I decided to be a bit crazy and go to Northern Arizona University for college -- a beach bum moving away from the beach -- where I earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in early childhood. I am finishing up my master’s in educational technology at NAU as well.
What brought you to DC?
After college, I bounced between California and Arizona, teaching for seven years, but wanted to see what life was like on the East Coast. I flew back and forth several times interviewing, and was about to give up when Assistant Principal Norah Rabiah called. I interviewed at Murch and knew it was where I wanted to be; 30 minutes later, I accepted a job from Principal Dawn Ellis. It has been everything I ever thought it would be.
What made you go into teaching?
I love kiddos! They are the best. There is nothing that any student is not capable of. How could you not love getting to spend your day with a Murch kiddo? Not to mention, teacher’s blood runs 100% through my veins. I come from a family full of teachers and principals.
What has been your greatest challenge as a teacher?
“I think I can…I think I can….I know I can!” Kiddos tend first to believe they can’t do something before believing they can. My greatest goal year after year is getting kiddos initially to believe in themselves and their ability to do anything.
How do you accomplish that?
For starters, every year my classroom becomes a team. Instead of our being addressed as “Miss Stewart’s class,” we are “Team 4” (our room number). We discuss how being a part of the team means setting the best example for everyone -- always! Our Team includes our kiddos, myself, and our wonderfully supportive parents.
Are you into team sports?
I grew up on the water so I love kneeboarding, wakeboarding, wakeskating, waterskiing, tubing, you name it. But I am a team player. I loved working at our college bookstore and concert venue at NAU in college. My favorite job, besides teaching, was waitressing. I could serve spaghetti and meatballs like nobody’s business.
And you’ve started a team of sorts at Murch, the Digital Natives Club.
Marc Prensky, the learning software visionary, coined this new generation of students "Digital Natives." Our Mustang Digital Natives are working on engaging study tools to help with brainstorming, concept mapping, emailing, blogging, creating online collaborative stories, and movie making. We have been looking into using Google Docs, creating an iGoogle, and will eventually get into using Web 2.0 tools (similar to Facebook but safer). Our kiddos are so excited and come to class each Monday dying to get their hands on our new tool. I just love their enthusiasm and yearning for more technology. The best part of Digital Natives is that we all learn from each other. Sure, I'm the "instructor" but our Digital Natives teach me things all the time. Our best Mondays are when kiddos present on a new iGoogle App they downloaded, or share a collaborative Pirate Story they wrote based on crazy online illustrations.
Let me guess, you’d like to see more technology at Murch?
These are students who are growing up immersed in technology. Think: How many Murch kiddos, even as young as pre-K, can work an iPod, iPhone, or iPad – simultaneously even?! That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout, Willis! Why would students be interested in what we are teaching them if we are using a worksheet? Bor-ing! We need to build autonomy within our students, so they are working collaboratively on standards-based technology projects and incorporating Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Web 2.0, and various software into their own learning. They are craving it, but sometimes educators are too nervous about new ways that they forget to shake it up.
When you’re not Wakeboarding, what are you up to?
I love to be outside. Anything that involves the sun, the beach, traveling, shopping, music, friends, family, or seafood, count me in! I also sing in the car, American Idol style, I am addicted to green iced tea and dark chocolate, and I love a good road trip.
Finally, how would you finish this sentence: “If I weren’t a teacher, I’d be….”
...a flower shop owner. Flowers make everyone’s heart smile…especially mine!
-- Donna LaPorte Scharpf
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