Student Participants

Field Experience - Belize Participants
Elementary/Primary Teacher Candidates
Amanda Barnes	My name is Amanda Barnes and I am a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the USA. I am currently studying Elementary Education. Since being at the university, I have developed a belief that children should be able to learn, experiment and explore their environment while at school. I am interested in collaborating with your teachers in order to make this belief a reality for all children. My experiences in elementary classrooms include observing and teaching in a 2nd grade, 3rd grade and 4th grade classroom. I am also currently interning in a 3rd grade classroom and will soon be taking over all teaching responsibilities. Upon arriving at your school, I would love to be part of a standard 3, 4 or 5 classroom. Thank you for your time.
Kristen Brenton	Hello! I am very excited to have this opportunity to work in the primary school with Belizean students. My name is Ms. Kristen Brenton and I am currently attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In May 2009 I am expecting to graduate after completion of student teaching. I am very excited for this opportunity, as I will be part of the first group from UNCW to complete a portion of the internship abroad. I feel I will gain a lot from this experience after working with the students and faculty. Just a little about my teaching philosophy style. I view each child as an individual and know they all are at different developmental stages and I will try my best to meet those individual needs. I want to work with your student(s) to provide an enriching classroom structured towards constructivism or ‘hands-on.’ When working in the classroom, I will exemplify patience with the students as they all learn at different levels and pace. I also will demonstrate creativity with the lessons and will expect the students to show me the same in their work. I am eager to put all these ideas to practical use in the classroom. I feel that as I will be teaching the students, they in return will be teaching me. Ideally, I would like to teach in the lower standard classroom (grades 1-2). I am looking forward to arriving in San Pedro, Belize and working in the school with the students!
Wendy Unsworth	My name is Wendy Unsworth and I have been taking Education classes for two years at UNCW. In December of '09 I will graduate with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish. One of the concepts I have learned at UNCW is that children should learn by constructivism. They should be able to learn new information by using what they already know; so that they do not create misconceptions. This March I will complete all the requirements which include, tutoring a full semester, Field Experience at a science and math school, and Student Teaching for ten weeks. This spring I would like to student teach a Standard 4 class.
High School Teacher Candidates
John Derian	My name is John Derian and I am a MAT graduate student for science education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). I am currently doing my teaching internship at New Hanover High School teaching one on-level Biology class and two classes of Honors Biology. If given the choice, I would like to be placed with a senior Biology class, but I will have no problem working with any grade level 9-12 in Biology. I have a Bachelor's of Science degree at UNCW for Marine Biology, so the opportunity to teach in San Pedro, Belize not only suits my professional development interests but also my personal academic interests. I am very excited and looking forward to working with the educators at the high school as well as the students during this unique teaching experience.
Margo Ennis	My name is Margo Ennis and I am a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the USA. I am currently working on my Master’s degree in science education and plan to teach secondary science in the fall. I am interested in assisting in your secondary school’s science classroom at any of the standards.
Will Fassbender	My name is Will Fassbender and I am a graduate student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the United States, studying secondary English education. I am currently doing my student teaching at Laney High School (the same school that Michael Jordan attended) and have the great pleasure of teaching world literature. My hope is to gain a greater insight, not only with regard to literature around the world, but the difference in cultures with regard to education. I would love to figure out a way for my students in America to read a short story or novel that students in Belize could read as well and see if I could connect both classes to have some type of cross-cultural discussion dealing with a piece of literature. For this to occur, I’m guessing I would like to teach a class of either standard 11 or 12. Overall, I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with students in Belize and cannot wait to meet everyone.
Kristen Trotter	My name is Kristen Trotter. I am currently receiving my Master’s degree in High School Science Education from The University of North Carolina Wilmington. I received my undergraduate degree at UNCW as well, in Biology, in 2005. I am currently completing my partnership teaching internship at Ashley High School in Wilmington. I have been placed in a predominately 10^th grade Biology class. My interests include plant taxonomy and plant biology. I would like to assist your high school teaching staff in any science content area that you need or would like help in but I am strongest in Biology. I look forward to meeting you and thanks for having us!
Supervising Faculty
	My name is Dr. Dennis Kubasko, Jr. and I am an associate professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the USA. My primary responsibilities include developing high school science teachers and providing instruction to teacher candidates in educational technology. My research and publication interests include developing innovative approaches to teaching science in schools and integrating technology tools into the curriculum. I am interested in assisting your staff with any professional development you may think they need. I was a high school science teacher for 8 years prior to my role at the university.