School of Education graduate earns opportunity to teach in Uruguay

Anna Lise Kunkel-Jure ’15, Elementary Education and Psychology double major and a Special Education minor, School of Education

Job opportunity: Teaching fourth grade at the Uruguayan American School in Montevideo, Uruguay, a private college preparatory school enrolling approximately 320 international and host country students in preschool through 12th grade.

Start date: August 2015

How did Rider help prepare you for this opportunity?

I definitely feel very well-rounded because I took a lot of core classes my first and second year.  In addition, starting my freshmen year I was fortunate to work at the Center for Reading and Writing and have experiences working with students who were six to twelve years old along with the graduate level teacher who had created individualized programs for each of them. Throughout the ten weeks of the program I saw a tremendous growth in each student. And then, starting in my sophomore year, I took, the practicum, which put me in the classroom for two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In my junior year, I also had two practicums, and which were longer; a full day in the classroom on Thursdays. Finally, by the time I reached my senior year, I was ready to teach fifth grade as a full time student teacher at Brooks Crossing Elementary School in South Brunswick for two months and then I had a special education placement at Indian Fields also in South Brunswick for another two months.

Whenever I talk to students from other New Jersey schools, I find out that they didn’t get nearly as much field experience as I did. I was able to teach second through fourth grade, fifth grade and also special education in high school. I also taught in three different towns— Lawrenceville, Plainsboro, and South Brunswick, so I got to see how different schools operated and meets lots of teachers and administrators. Finally, I graduated certified to teach at the elementary level K-6 and special education K-12. Not all programs do that.

What brought you to Rider?

When I was still in high school researching schools, Rider had the best education program by far. I really liked that I’d get so much experience in the classroom. In addition, because of my good academic standing, I received the Provost Scholarship, which paid for half of my education for all four years.  Having that scholarship was a big relief—to know that I could focus on my studies and not worry so much about the financial aspects of my education.

What are you most nervous about?  

I’m worried that my Spanish isn’t good enough to get around. I can understand the language really well, but when I speak, I get slipped up sometimes. But I think this deficit also provides an advantage, because it will help me empathize with international students who are also struggling with the language or with expressing their knowledge about a concept.  

What are you most excited about?

I am most excited about getting to teach fourth grade! I am also thrilled to have this chance to teach in another country, and to be able to meet teachers from around the world, representing five different countries and other parts of the U.S.  My grandma Iris and my uncle lives in Uruguay too, so I look forward to spending time with them and all of the friends and family from Uruguay I don’t really get to see often or spend much time with. All and all, this is an amazing opportunity and I likely wouldn’t have gotten the job if it weren’t for all of the hands-on, real world experience I received at Rider.