THS Seniors Honored As Cadet Teachers of the Year

by Ronda Lickteig
R-T News Writer
The two Trenton High School seniors selected as Cadet Teachers of the Year share a common trait that has served them well in the classroom: the ability to build relationships with their students.

Clorissa Blozvich and Samantha Hudson have been honored as cadet teachers of the year by the THS Chapter of Future Teachers of America. Clorissa was a cadet in the third grade art classrooms at Rissler Elementary School, while Samantha has served as a cadet in the afternoon classroom at the Trenton R-9 Preschool.
Since the students rotate their “special” classes, Clorissa had the opportunity to work with all of the Rissler third grade students in Amy Overstreet’s art classroom. Serving as a cadet has only cemented Clorissa’s career choice in her mind.
“I already wanted to be an art teacher, but being here made me realize this is really what I want to do,” she said.
One of the highlights of her time as a cadet was preparing a lesson plan and teaching the lesson.
“She (Ms. Overstreet) actually had me do a lesson – the lesson plan and the whole nine yards,” she said. “It helped me see what it takes to do a lesson.”
That project, said Ms. Overstreet in her nomination form, was very successful.
“Clorissa took on the challenge of teaching a lesson and did a great job! Some students chose that project to put in the art show.”
Ms. Overstreet also noted how Clorissa was able to relate to students.
“She has worked to make each student feel special. I have noticed the extra time she takes with struggling students to help them feel and be successful,” she wrote.
Clorissa said she definitely came to understand that each of the students in her classes has their own way of seeing things.
“I learned that their minds work differently than mine,” she commented. “Actually, they think of some of the most awesome things!”
Clorissa, the daughter of Corinna Still, will graduate this Sunday and will be visiting colleges in an effort to determine where to continue her education. Wherever she decides to earn her degree, Ms. Overstreet believes Clorissa has a bright future in her chosen profession.
“She will make a WONDERFUL elementary art teacher!” she said.
Like Clorissa, Samantha already knew she wanted to work with children, but her experience as a cadet teacher in the preschool has made her even more sure of her decision.
“I’m not exactly sure yet what I want to do, but I know I want to work with kids,” she said. “Being here has made me more sure of that.”
She said she has really enjoyed getting to know the students in the preschool and didn’t realize how entertaining it could be.
“I wasn’t expecting them to say so many funny things,” she said.
Samantha noted that she has learned patience and her experience has taught her something about her mother, Lora Hudson, who was her cooperating teacher.
“I can see that my Mom has a lot of patience with them,” she said.
Mrs. Hudson challenged Samantha to teach a week-long unit, which focused on different countries.
“We have a very diverse classroom of students,” said Mrs. Hudson. “Smartboard fun-facts about each country were shared with the children, art projects were made for the country, stories were chosen for story time and snacks were planned.”
Mrs. Hudson said Samantha also took the time to teach Spanish to the students as a way to start them learning a new language at a young age and to help a Hispanic child in the class feel more important. Her strength has been her ability to make each child feel special.
“She greets the children each by name as they enter the classroom, she talks with each child and is genuinely interested in what they say. They often tell her things they wouldn’t tell me. She has built a strong relationship with each child,” Mrs. Hudson said.
Samantha, who is also the daughter of Steve Hudson, plans to attend Westminster College in Fulton next fall, where she will major in Early Childhood Education and Spanish. Her commitment to teaching (which even involved her resigning from her FFA office so she could change her schedule to continue cadet teaching and take a child development class) is evident and will serve her well in the years to come.
“There are times when I think I could learn a thing or two from her consideration (of students)…She has truly found her calling,” said Mrs. Hudson.