Grace Jefferies's picture

Grace
Jefferies

  • BSU ( July-2022 )
  • Morristown, Indiana, USA

About (Summary)

High ability education is my ideal area of focus. I graduated summa cum laude from Ball State University in 2016 with a degree in elementary education with a double concentration in reading and gifted/talented studies. After a year of teaching, I took the exam for gifted/talented studies and obtained my high ability license. I have been teaching for a total of four years now, two of which I was asked to be my school's lead high ability educator. As my career has progressed, I have realized that we spend a lot of time focusing on our “bubble” kids and students with IEPs, but there are not a lot of advocates for our high achievers or students who have potential to be high achievers. I desire to be this advocate for students who have the ability to go above and beyond what is expected of them.

Education

Ball State University
Elementary Education
2012 to 2016

Your Major

Educational Psychology, focusing on gifted/talented education

Language Proficiency

Honors and Awards

Summa Cum Laude
I graduated with a 3.98 GPA in my undergrad.
Dean's List
I was on the Dean's List all 8 semesters in my undergrad.
Outstanding Future Reading Teacher Award
My junior year of undergrad I was awarded the Outstanding Future Reading Teacher Award. Now, I teach fourth grade, and my reading scores on NWEA are often praised for the amount of growth my students achieve in a school year.

Grad School Interests

My dream job is to be a high ability coordinator for schools. I believe the best way to do this is by obtaining as much education as I can. Therefore, my best course of action is to pursue educational psychology and to pick four classes to design my own specialization. Where better to pursue this than my alma mater? I have been told that the specific courses at the graduate level for high ability education directly mirror what I received in my undergrad. However, I have been researching and found four different classes that would offer unique skills to help me grow as an educator seeking high ability knowledge. I reached out to my advisor and have been given permission to create my own gifted and talented path. I set high standards for all students in my classroom and expect everyone to achieve them. I would like to set an example for my students and push myself to achieve as I continue to push them towards high expectations as well.

Intended Job Path

My ultimate dream is being a high ability coordinator for schools, where I can establish and run a gifted/talented program. When I was a child, I was given one shot to enter my elementary school's high ability program. In third grade, I was a nervous test-taker who buckled under the pressure and did not make it into the program. However, in fourth grade, a teacher who was not my own realized that I was not being pulled into the high ability program and advocated for me because he knew I should be challenged! Suddenly, I was in the program and thriving. Once I was being challenged according to my academic ability, I was able to grow as a student and was much less nervous in the classroom. My confidence and academic achievements grew because I was finally in a place where I could be myself! This experience at such a young age was a huge asset in helping me discover what I want to do with my life. I aim to be the advocate for students who have high ability or high potential. My dream job would be to coordinate a program where students can discover who they are and challenge themselves to their full extent.

Job Experience

4th Grade Teacher
Everton Elementary, Connersville, IN
August, 2016 to May, 2021
Teaching Aide
Wes-Del Elementary School
May, 2016

Volunteering

Color Guard/Winter Guard Coach
Connersville High School
August, 2017 to May, 2021
Math Bowl Coach
Everton Elementary
November, 2018 to May, 2021
Genius Hour Founder/Teacher
Everton Elementary
March, 2019 to May, 2021
Archery Coach
Everton Elementary
January, 2019 to May, 2021
Kidney Camp Counselor
National Kidney Foundation of Indiana
May, 2013 to May, 2021
Sunday School Teacher
Brookville Road Community Church
May, 2016 to May, 2021

Hobbies

My main hobby is marching band! When I was a sophomore in high school, I joined the color guard section of the marching band and absolutely fell in love with the activity. I did color guard for three years in high school and all four years at Ball State. In fact, Ball State's Pride of Mid-America marching band is where I met my husband and a majority of my friends. Today, I volunteer with the Connersville High School marching band as the lead color guard and winter guard director, re-establishing their program. This upcoming school year will be the fourth year that we have had a color guard with the marching band! In my spare time, I will often go out in my yard to spin flag, rifle, and/or saber, choreographing routines for our upcoming shows or practicing old shows that I know and love. After teaching fourth grade all day, I often head over to the high school to spin and teach with my guard students. I love sharing my passion for spinning with others.

Organizations

Grace Jefferies - BSU | HonorSociety.org
View Grace Jefferies 's profile on HonorSociety.org. HonorSociety.org is the preeminent organization dedicated to recognition of student success, and to empower students to achieve.