Getting to Know You: Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller – Elementary Education with an ELL endorsement
Hometown: Marysville, WA
Year: Senior
Why do you want to become a teacher?
My mom works on the west side as a literacy specialist. I volunteered there a few times and the experience I had there was really impactful and I figured it was the right path for me.
What made you come to WSU?
WSU didn’t require an essay. Also, I have a lot of family history here. My grandma was born and raised in Pullman and my grandpa was born and raised in Colfax. They both went here and met here. I have a lot of extended family that went here as well and I heard a lot about it. I also wanted to get away from the west side.
What impact do you hope to make?
Of course, I want to have a positive impact on kids, but I really want to be a strong male role model. Especially in those high needs areas where the kids need a strong male role model. I also want the environment to be safe and consistent for them.
How do you like your practicum?
I am at Franklin Elementary. I’m with the care plus teacher. She’s basically a literacy specialist and I mostly do small group interventions. I help with phonics and a lot of other times I will be going to different classrooms and help teachers with what they are doing.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I can definitely imagine myself going into middle school or high school or going back to school to become an administrator or going into higher education, but I think as I get more experience in education I’ll understand more of where I want to go.
What grade do you hope to teach?
I definitely want to teach elementary. But I wouldn’t be surprised if down the line I went back to get middle or high school endorsement. I think for right now elementary makes the most sense, but I don’t know if that will be forever.