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-   -   Student Teaching and Sorority President? (https://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=153490)

gphieducator 08-20-2015 11:57 PM

Student Teaching and Sorority President?
 
Hi everyone! So I have question about something that I have been considering for a while. I really want to run for president of my chapter in upcoming elections this fall. The only concern is that I would be doing my student teaching during the last semester of the office term. Most people who are education majors in my chapter go alumn before they do their internship, but I really want the opportunity. I have fairly good time management skills and will really be narrowing down my extra curricular activities in my last year, except for sorority stuff. Has anyone else done both? Is it possible? Any thoughts or advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

33girl 08-21-2015 04:29 AM

Maybe this could work IF

- your chapter is fairly small (less than 50 members) and overprogramming isn't an issue
- you are student teaching at a school within 5 miles from your campus
- your chapter meetings are on a weekend afternoon or evening. You ever know what's going to hold you up during the day.
- things in your chapter are running on a fairly even keel and you don't anticipate any problems

EVEN IF all these things apply, I would really think twice about running for president.

andthen 08-21-2015 08:13 AM

I commend your drive and even considering taking both on. But student teaching from what my friends who are teachers told me, is a lot like having a real job as a teacher. There's probably a good reason your chapter sisters who were education majors went alum when they did their internship.

Doing both, I feel like you'd end up spreading yourself too thin, and doing both roles a disservice. Again, I admire your willingness to step up. Also think of it this way, after your collegiate days are long gone, and you do want to serve your sorority in some way that you feel like would be meaningful to you there are opportunities once you are an alumnae. Best of luck in your final year.

NutBrnHair 08-21-2015 09:39 AM

I did both in 1982!

Seriously though, every situation is different. I say GO FOR IT, if you think you can handle it. Being President of your chapter is a huge honor, privilege & responsibility. I learned more in that position than anything else I did in college.

DeltaBetaBaby 08-21-2015 10:54 AM

I'd also think about what the alternatives are. Is there another woman who'd be an excellent president, and you could take a strong supporting role as VP or something similar? Or are you really the clear, best choice?

DubaiSis 08-21-2015 11:06 AM

Actually, in a really well-run organization the president delegates and oversees. I could see a person having time for president but NOT having time for VP. But that is only true if the parameters 33girl stated above are mostly true. If the chapter is huge or kind of a hot mess then probably not.

Also, I grew up in a school system that used a lot of student teachers. And by mid-semester they were TEACHING. If you will be at a school like that, I would really think about your work-load. I would imagine grade level would also impact that. A first grade teacher is not doing the same thing outside school hours that the 12th grade English teacher is.

Katmandu 08-21-2015 11:26 AM

Sometimes you don't have a lot of say over where you will be placed. At OK State, everyone wanted to be in Stillwater so they wouldn't have to move, but the Stillwater schools could only accept a certain number of student teachers. Some people had to end up in OKC, Tulsa, Enid, etc. Commuting could be a serious issue along with time, energy, etc. There is also a lot of value for the president being actually present at random times, not just chapter meetings.

APhiLife 08-21-2015 01:38 PM

Do you really think you can give both positions the dedication they deserve? I would really talk to the current President and get an idea of how much time she spends not only in the assigned duties of the President, but in the many other tasks that may come up.

I think it could work, but you definitely need to do a lot of research and planning.

Sciencewoman 08-21-2015 01:52 PM

Since Gamma Phi slates candidates, your chapter sisters will probably take your other responsibilities into consideration when they're deliberating. They may feel that another sister will have more time to give. Or they may take the stance, "if you want something done well, ask a busy person to do it."

As one of my professor responsibilities, I supervise student teachers. Feel free to PM me.

OPhiAGinger 08-21-2015 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andthen (Post 2327422)
….student teaching from what my friends who are teachers told me, is a lot like having a real job as a teacher.

I've heard this, too, from many many student teachers. But people with full-time jobs sometimes also take on very demanding hobbies or even a second job. I think that's what student teaching while serving as chapter president would be like. But the overlap is only for one semester, right? If you think you can handle long hours and the intensity of both responsibilities, go for it. Your sisters (whether nominating committee or the general membership) will factor all that in when they make their decision.

33girl 08-21-2015 03:03 PM

Also - will you be doing block the semester before you student teach? That's time consuming as well.

kitekat 08-21-2015 08:16 PM

I think you should go for it!

But like APhiLife said, you should definitely have a discussion with the current president and do your research so you can go in as prepared as possible.

amIblue? 08-21-2015 10:02 PM

I think trying to do both is a terrible idea. Student teaching will have you busier than you've ever thought of being in your life. It's a full time job that goes way beyond the school day. If you are planning on teaching, then it's time to focus on that and let someone else take the reins as president.

TriDeltaSallie 08-21-2015 10:36 PM

I did both (and also worked a part-time job). I think it can be done depending on the person. A lot of it depends on your chapter, your delegating skills, your student teaching assignment, your mentor teacher, etc.

Both were great experiences. I loved my time as chapter president. One of the best things I ever did.

1964Alum 08-21-2015 11:02 PM

My student teaching was very demanding. I started actually teaching on my third day! Then after my third day I taught all sections every day for the rest of the school year. I taught Senior English so had a lot of both prep time and grading to do.

I had been an officer in a state level organization with many demands and stepped down before I student taught. Is it possible that the president-elect for the coming year in your sorority could get started early? If your student teaching is for the second half of the last semester might that be feasible?

TweedleDee199 08-22-2015 02:24 AM

One thing to consider: it might be doable to balance the regular duties (exec and panhell meetings, etc) with teaching but there is no way to budget time for a crisis. If your chapter faced a serious issue, say mass discipline hearings, would you feel comfortable balancing the extra hours and emotional drain with everything else? Also would teaching coincide with recruitment? Every chapter is different but in mine the president and MVP were basically co-captains during work week and onwards. That meant as president I was up until the wee hours with our MVP and advisors making sure PNM lists were in order and decorations for the next day set. It was an incredible opportunity to serve but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't burned-out by the end of my term. Good luck making your choice and remember that ANYONE can effect positive change in their chapter with or without a position!

KSUViolet06 08-22-2015 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 2327401)
Maybe this could work IF

- your chapter is fairly small (less than 50 members) and overprogramming isn't an issue
- you are student teaching at a school within 5 miles from your campus
- your chapter meetings are on a weekend afternoon or evening. You ever know what's going to hold you up during the day.
- things in your chapter are running on a fairly even keel and you don't anticipate any problems

EVEN IF all these things apply, I would really think twice about running for president.

It might even be a worse idea if your chapter is small. Presidents tend to have to DO more and delegate less in smaller groups (at least that is what I see in my volunteer role.)


KSUViolet06 08-22-2015 05:27 PM

Double-posting, but I student taught as an adult in a career change and I still found it to be rather demanding. You are not just WATCHING. You are being a teacher every day. Also, depending on your state, you are also completing the necessary exams and state requirements to get your teaching license at the same time.

If you're in Ohio, that means you're completing the TPA (three separate tasks requiring you to record yourself teaching, upload your assessment data, lesson plans, etc. and write 10 page commentaries on each video while analyzing your data and uploading graphs, student work, etc. to the state scoring system to be scored by ODE.) You're also taking your OAE exams if you have not already done so.

I couldn't imagine doing all of that and having to be concerned with (for example) Officer Academy.

That, and your schedule depends on your cooperating teacher, grade, etc. I student taught in an elementary school. We did not dismiss until 4. Had I been a college student, I would have been getting home at 4:30 and heading to a COR at 5:30. If it were during fall, I would have missed recruitment entirely.


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