UW-Whitewater graduate named Student Teacher of the Year

December 15, 2009

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater alumna Kelly Jankowski was named Student Teacher of the Year award by the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA).

The association selects one student each year for the award. Nominated students are judged based on their academic achievement, leadership and volunteer experience in the early childhood field. To be eligible students must have completed a successful student teaching experience.

"I was very excited, shocked and honored at the same time," Jankowski said. "It was an incredible honor to be selected out of the entire state of Wisconsin to receive such a prestigious award."

Jankowski graduated in May 2009 with a degree in education. Currently, she is working as a senior therapist for the Wisconsin Early Autism Project. As a senior therapist she leads a team of therapists that provides applied behavior analysis therapy for autistic children.

"My student teaching experience was one I will never forget," Jankowski said. "I was paired with a cooperating teacher who taught me more than I could have ever imagined. Joann Thostenson was and still is a mentor for life."

During her student teaching experience, Jankowski taught at East Elementary in Jefferson alongside first grade teacher Thostenson. The thing Jankowski will remember most about her time at East Elementary was being a part of her students' learning and growth.

"It is so rewarding to see the children grow in front of your very eyes and to know that you were a huge part of that," she said.