7/11/2017 0 Comments About Hannah Cotten (Part 2)Background Information: Hannah Cotten’s Education and Teaching Career
I attended Hyde Park Baptist High School, a college prepatory school, in Austin, Texas, graduating number six in my class and in the top ten percent. Throughout my schooling, I was involved in music, tennis, art, theater and the National Honor Society. I play the harp, having studied under the University of Texas harp professor since the age of 5. After high school, I attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development with High Honors in May 2011. I have always had a love for travel, so after graduating, I moved to Sydney, Australia in 2012, where I was a private au-pair for two children, ages 9 and 12. I lived with the family as a private tutor and a harp instructor. Additionally, I attended parent-teacher conferences, prepared meals, and planned enjoyable and educational outings with the children. I believe my role as a parent figure during my time as an au-pair has greatly helped me as a teacher. I am more understanding of parents and aim to communicate effectively. I also learned a lot about schools outside of the United States. Additionally, I realized how important it is to raise and teach globally aware students who are accepting of others. After living in Australia and traveling in New Zealand for one year, I returned back to the States with a fervor and excitement for education, travel, and nature. In 2013, I accepted a teaching job at Hill Elementary in Austin, Texas. For the past 4 years, I have taught 5th grade Science, Health and Social Studies. My aim as a teacher is to build meaningful relationships with my students, as well as my colleagues. I push myself to be the best teacher I can be, always learning and growing. In 2014, the University of Texas wrote an article where I was a profiled education alumni: http://magazine.edb.utexas.edu/alumni-portrait-series/5/ This past year, in 2016, I was awarded Teacher of the Year, a high honor I humbly accepted. Teaching is the largest portion of my job, however, I also enjoy being involved in many other aspects on our campus as a leader, innovator, and problem solver. I am the current 5th grade Team Lead, where I conduct team meetings and attend campus facilitator meetings as well as communicate with and guide my team in planning, organization and implementation of school, district and state wide goals and standards. As a teacher who regularly using technology in the classroom, I am involved in several technology leadership and educator roles. I am a Hill Campus Innovator in which I attend trainings on technology integration, meet with campus innovators and aid educators in the understanding of the new online management system known as BLEND. Additionally, I am the PPfT SLO Campus Contact. In this role, I educate teachers on the new AISD appraisal system, known as Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT), focusing on how to make Student Learning Objectives (SLO), submit those objectives for review, upload assessments scores and monitor target growth areas. Not only am I involved in technology roles on our campus, but I am also very involved in assisting our campus with overpopulation. Hill Elementary is 156% overcapacity. We are an exceptional school, which draws a lot of families and students. With this good problem, comes facilities struggles, in which we need to think creatively and strategize ways of utilizing our current facilities as effectively as possible while also planning for future growth. I am a member of the Facility Master Plan Committee and give feedback and advice on building plans as well as implement facilities solutions for current overpopulated schools. I have met with and give advice to architects to plan additions on our campus to aid in our overcrowding. Additionally, in 2016, I was the co-chair for the Campus Advisory Council on our campus. I coordinated with our principal to plan agendas and I lead discussions at CAC meetings to communicate and problem solve with parents and teachers. Currently, my focus is twofold 1) continued self-education and pursuit of lifelong learning, specifically in the areas of biology and ecology 2) continued enrichment of lesson plans in which my students will authentically learn through a variety of methods: outdoor learning, technology, hands-on learning, kinesthetic and musical methods, and project based learning.
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AuthorHannah Cotten is a 5th grade science teacher at Hill Elementary in Austin, Texas. She applied for and received a teacher travel research grant through Jason Learning, and will be traveling with Jason Learning on a research trip with Dr. Meg Lowman. CoSN is sponsoring Hannah, funding her entire expedition! ArchivesCategories |