Former Lab Technician Prefers the Science of Teaching
By Jaime Ingle, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.
Aug. 19–Sharon Spotanski puts her lab smarts to good use in her sixth-grade classroom at East St. Louis Lincoln Middle School.
“In the back of my mind I had always thought about teaching,” she said. “It was all about timing. I worked part-time so I could be there for my kids growing up.”
Sharon, 43, of Troy, is in her second year of teaching sixth-grade science after working for almost 20 years as a part-time histotechnologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
“I started there in 1985 and took four years off to be with my kids at home.”
At the hospital, she helped prepare surgical specimen slides for pathologists, doctors who study diseases such as cancer.
Sharon worked early mornings, often starting at 4:30 a.m. She finished by early afternoon so she could be home when her kids got home from school or needed to be picked up from school activities.
In 1985, she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Olivette Nazarene University. Sharon already had the necessary science background but needed certification and education classes to teach middle school students.
Her husband David, 44, and children Erin, 19, Jon, 17, and James, 15, encouraged her to go back to school.
She joined McKendree University’s Transition to teaching program last spring.
Program coordinator Rick Acuncius said Sharon’s experience as a parent makes her an ideal teacher.
“She can sit back and assess each student individually and say, ‘What is this kid all about as a person.’”Sharon’s children and David gave her space and kept quiet so she could do homework and prepare lesson plans.
“I’d have my boys do a lesson to see if they found any glitches with a project,” said Sharon.
Daughter Erin is a junior at McKendree, Jon is a senior and James is a sophomore at Triad High School.
McKendree assigned her to Lincoln Middle School. Her secondary education certification qualifies Sharon to teach students in grades 6 through 12.
As a new teacher, she could relate to students coming to a new school building.
“The sixth graders are transitioning, themselves. They’re working on being more independent.”
She’s part of a teaching team. She sees all the sixth-graders once a day for science and other sixth-grade teachers instruct students in language arts, math and social studies, physical education and the arts.
Sharon wants students to be excited about learning.
“I always have to think, ‘How can I make this relevant? How can I give it meaning?”
Last year, she taught them about the flow of electricity using circuits and small lightbulbs.
Sharon grades assignments promptly.
“Students want to get their work back and know how they’re doing.”
She’s also grateful to other sixth-grade teachers for encouraging her.
“My mentor, Mrs. (Gracie) Robinson, was right next door.”
Sharon was back at school last week preparing her classroom and shopping at Parent-Teacher Tools, a education supply store in O’Fallon. Students visited last Monday for sixth-grade orientation.
“In general, they’re worried about being in a new building and finding everything. They’re wondering when they should go to their lockers and how to work their locks.”
She expects them to do their best.
“They earn my respect and I also respect them.”
School begins Monday and Sharon is as excited as her students.
“You see the excitement on their faces. It’s contagious.”
Meet Sharon Spotanski, 43
Residence: Troy
Previous occupation: Histotechnician
Hobbies: “Now, I’m busy going to the boys’ games. I still like to sew and read but I don’t have much time for that now.” She also likes to garden.
Last good book you’ve read: “The Essential 55″ by Ron Clark. The book suggests ways teachers can bring out the best in their students.
Favorite foods: Seafood and pasta
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