Hello, my name is Brienna Edwards. I am an aspiring teacher, graduating from CSU Sacramento in May 2022 with a Multiple Subject Credential. I will be continuing throughout the summer and upcoming school year as I complete my Masters in Education.

While I was in the credentialing program at Sacramento State I student-taught in the Sacramento City Unified School District. I had the privilege of being placed within a kindergarten classroom where I was able to learn and grow with many students who were brand-new to a school setting. It was through this experience that I learned how to tailor lesson plans to meet the needs of all students. My class was diverse and beautiful, and it was through this experience that I was able to be fully immersed in a class where students were—in many cases—coming to school for the first time. I also learned the importance of classroom management and how impactful a classroom community can be. I believe that students' culture needs to be reflected within the classroom. I also believe that the classroom also creates its own culture, and it is important to honor this as well. To do this it is essential for students to see themselves, not only in the media we consume but also in the classroom around them.

In my classes at Sacramento State, I learned how to create an inclusive classroom for everyone. The program emphasized equity for all students, something I believe in strongly and whole-heartedly and wish to implement this not only in my classroom but in my life as well. Throughout the program we studied the Social Justic Standards, we focused on the importance of making all students feel empowered through their similarities and differences and to feel confident in standing up against injustice. I learned how to flawlessly infuse these standards into the lessons that we teach every day. Through my classes at Sacramento State, I was also introduced to Universal Design for Learning, or UDL. As someone who has close ties to members of the disability community, I am passionate about making sure that what I teach and how I teach is accessible to all students. I am constantly willing to learn and grow and discover new and better ways to teach my current and future students.

In addition to all of the experience I gained in the classroom during the past year, I also have eight years of experience working with children. When I was nineteen I began working with Carmichael Parks and Recreation district. I began as a Summer camp counselor where we planned and played recreation games with groups of children ranging from 5-14. It was through this program I was able to work at Bridge After School program where I was able to work in a more academic setting. It was here that I learned how to assist with homework and tutoring.

After 4 years I moved back to Carmichael Parks and Recreation where I was the Assistant Coordinator for the after school program there. In this role I was able to develop, and run activities (crafts and games), field parent comment and concerns and ensure proper safety guidelines are followed.

During the summer months I was hired to be the Summer Camp Coordinator. The camp I ran was for ages 5–8-year-old camp (60+ kids). In this position I was responsible for making sure children are registered with emergency forms, keep track of allergies and medical needs of children, train new staff, organize activities and make daily and weekly schedules, organize field trips twice a week (responsible for making sure all children arrive to and from field trip safely) communicate with parents and staff as needed, organize with other camps, handle behavior issues, as necessary.

When Covid struck our program had to change with the times. Assist with Zoom classrooms, help them to attend the meetings and then complete school work and homework afterwards, trained other staff on Zoom, keep things sanitary and comply with state and county guidelines while still completing other duties.

I am so grateful for all of the experience that I have gained and look forward to using all of this knowledge in my future career as an educator.