My name is Janet Look.  My journey to become an educator has been a long one with many detours, but they all led to the same destination. 

      In the 1980’s I graduated from Bradley University with a degree in Home Economics, married, and moved out west.  I worked in retail management until our first son was born.  I was fortunate to be able to learn about the different stages and changes children go through as I watched my own children grow.  While volunteering at their school, I discovered my true passion was teaching.  I returned to college and started on my second degree.

       I came full circle when my husband and I returned to central Illinois with our three children.  I worked as a Title I Reading Assistant when our daughter started kindergarten and enrolled at Illinois State University to complete my degree in Elementary Education.             My senior year was spent as an intern in the Pekin Professional Development School.  This year long internship partners Illinois State University with Pekin District 108.  Interns are totally immersed in the school culture from the beginning of the year.  I began the year in a third grade classroom and moved to a sixth grade class in the second phase.  After very positive experiences in both grade levels, I chose to do a dual placement in my final semester of student teaching.

      I graduated from Illinois State University May 12, 2007 with endorsements in Language Arts, Social Sciences, and Middle School.  I will be teaching 5th grade at Washington Intermediate School in the fall.  I’m confident that the PDS program has prepared me for what lies ahead.  My experience in this program and other endeavors in my life have readied me for a successful career as an elementary educator.