My name is Ashley Nicolas.  I am from Pana, Illinois.  I attended Lake Land Community College and received an associate’s degree in science.  I transferred to Illinois State University.  During my senior year, I participated in the ISU/Pekin Professional Development School Program (PDS).  It is a yearlong student teaching internship with Pekin Public Schools District 108. 

 

As part of the PDS program, I have been able to experience many aspects of the teaching profession.  I have welcomed students at the beginning of the school year, participated in district/ building meetings and parent conferences, and interned in two different grade levels.  I have benefited from each level of the program.

 

I recently finished student teaching in a kindergarten classroom and was delighted with the many opportunities for learning it imposed.  I will graduate in May with a Bachelor's of science in elementary education in which I will be eligible for a K-9 teaching certificate with endorsements in Science, Social Science and Language Arts.