Early childhood education major George LaFleur came to UL Lafayette to follow in his favorite teacher杏吧专区檚 footsteps.
杏吧专区淚 felt a very strong connection to her,杏吧专区 George said. 杏吧专区淚 felt loved. Welcomed. I never had a teacher do that before. That杏吧专区檚 why I tried my hardest in this program 杏吧专区 because I want to be her, basically.杏吧专区
George杏吧专区檚 teacher, Robin Amanda Jeffers, helped George escape an abusive relationship and see a path forward.
杏吧专区淪he was like, 杏吧专区榊ou can do this.杏吧专区 She took me under her wing,杏吧专区 he said. 杏吧专区淲hen a teacher can see something in you, it helps you. I saw what a teacher can do for a student. They can change a student杏吧专区檚 life.杏吧专区
Ms. Jeffers died in a car accident while George was in high school, and her death deeply affected George. He tattooed her name on the inside of his arm, and he carries her classroom key on a lanyard. She remains his inspiration as he begins his career as an educator.
Accepted at UL Lafayette
George started college at LSU Eunice, and then transferred to UL Lafayette to finish his education degree. As a gay black man, he said he didn杏吧专区檛 always feel welcome in south Louisiana.
杏吧专区淲hen I came to UL Lafayette, it was a whole different ball game. They welcomed me with open arms," he said.
"I felt safe. It杏吧专区檚 very different 杏吧专区 it杏吧专区檚 more open here, people are more accepting, they杏吧专区檙e here to help you, and you don杏吧专区檛 feel lost in the crowd.杏吧专区
His identity is also part of the reason he chose early childhood education as his major. He started substitute teaching kindergarten when he was 19, and he loved it.
杏吧专区淚 wanted to break the norm. I saw that my class was full of African American males, and I had just four girls,杏吧专区 he said. 杏吧专区淭hey were amazed to see someone who was like them. There are no males to help guide these young African American men.杏吧专区
For his , the year-long student teaching experience that all education majors complete their senior year, George is working with kindergarteners at Broadmoor Elementary.
Broadmoor also has an English as a Second Language program for kindergarteners through fourth grade, and that杏吧专区檚 inspired George to consider earning his ESL teaching certification 杏吧专区 something he杏吧专区檚 wanted to pursue since working as a foreign exchange coordinator before starting college.
杏吧专区淚 see kids who don杏吧专区檛 speak English, they杏吧专区檙e sometimes passed around and they don杏吧专区檛 get that help they need,杏吧专区 he said. 杏吧专区淚 want to be that teacher to help them and push them up instead of passing them through the system. I thought I had to go to another country to teach English language learners, but I want to settle here and teach here.杏吧专区
The Power of Community
George has found a home in the College of Education with his 杏吧专区淭eacher Gang,杏吧专区 a group of six education majors who have taken the same classes since starting the together.
杏吧专区淲ithout them, I don杏吧专区檛 think this would have been possible. I wouldn杏吧专区檛 have made it this far,杏吧专区 George said. 杏吧专区淲e would lesson plan together, we would hang out together, we would cry together, we would vent together. We support each other.杏吧专区
With their help 杏吧专区 and the help of his professors 杏吧专区 George has worked hard to become the teacher he wants to be.
杏吧专区淯L Lafayette pushes us to bring more to the curriculum. The curriculum says to do this, but how can we do more? We want to add to and enhance our lessons,杏吧专区 he said. 杏吧专区淵ou can杏吧专区檛 just read a book about teaching 杏吧专区 you have to get your hands dirty.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 not an easy career choice, and this program is not easy. It杏吧专区檚 worth it, though.杏吧专区
