JESSICA TAMAM MASTERS OF EDUCATION SPECIALIZING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

ABOUT ME I am 37 years old born and raised in the island of Guam. I have six children of my own. I have two brothers. I am currently working at Guam’s first Charter School as a Pre-Kinder Teacher. I am also a certified Zumba Instructor.

INTERESTS I am interested in learning new ways to teach all children. Zumba and Cycling. Cooking quick and inexpensive healthy foods. Spending quality time with my kids.

PUBLIC SCHOOL Capt. H.B Price Elementary School. Pre-Kinder -5th grade-My interests were music and dance. Untalan Middle School.6th-8th grade. Interests was not on choir and dance but more of crouchet, cooking, sewing and woodworking classes. George Washington High School.9th-12th grade.Interests in Accounting, Art, P.E. Driver’s Ed and Jr. ROTC. Guam Community College. Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood. University of Guam College. Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education.

KEY EXPERIENCE One key experience that had a lasting impact in my life happened in second grade. I felt my teacher always picked on me. One incident was with the positioning of my paper. She would walk over and yell at me then place my paper right side up instead of slanted and tell me to write that way. The treatment didn’t end there. As soon as I was finished with my seatwork, which would always be before my classmates she would catch me talking and tell me to stand up and hold a book on each hand.

THE IMPACT Because of the treatment I experienced in 2 nd grade I always find myself rewriting things more than once and repositioning my papers in so many angles. I also take longer when completing assignments because I have lost interest. I found that I am scared to speak my mind and often stay quiet as I wait for others to voice their opinions. Even as a Zumba Instructor many of my friends say I should teach Zumba. I find it comforting to be behind the scenes and not out there. I truly was affected by this teacher. I am now a teacher myself and teaching in the elementary level. I come across children with many learning styles, who are left handed/right handed, who have other unique needs. And I find myself researching and confiding in others for ways to better understand my students and help them. I do not want any other child to experience the negativity I had in school.

FUTURE PLANS To Achieve my Masters Degree in Education with Specification in Special Needs. Achieving my Master’s Degree will help me not only financially but will enhance my knowledge working with children with special needs. To offer Zumba Fitness classes to faculty and staff at the school I work at.

FUTURE ROLE WITH MASTERS DEGREE Achieving my Masters Degree will help me and my family financially. Open new doors working with Children with Special Needs. Help meet expectations by my employer.

QUOTE Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. Robert Frost