Dear PERB Panelists,
I want to express my sincere appreciation for all the hard work you do in education and for taking the time to be here with me today. My name is Elizabeth Connelly, and I am a secondary education major with a concentration in history.
For many years, I imagined myself becoming a doctor, with the goal of helping people through emotionally turbulent times. However, as I entered college and reflected on my own educational experiences, it became clear to me that my true passion is learning and understanding the world alongside helping others. If you were to ask anyone I worked with last semester, they would tell you I often said, “teaching chooses you, not the other way around.” I cannot imagine myself in any other profession.
This presentation will examine my student teaching experience at Biddeford Middle School, where I worked in a sixth-grade reading classroom.
Aside from my journey into the educational field, there is the obvious question: why middle school? It took me some time to find this answer. Initially, I believed my talents were better suited for high school students. However, after observing middle school classrooms, I realized these students are navigating some of the most challenging, transformative years of their lives. Personally, I remember feeling like I flew under the radar during middle school — not always encouraged to use my voice as confidently as some of my peers. Now, more than ever, middle schoolers carry many challenges on their shoulders. I believe education is one of the most powerful tools we have for creating equity and empowerment. I want to be the kind of teacher who helps students find their voice, explore their potential, and feel seen and valued in the classroom.
During my time at Biddeford Middle School, I had a moment with a student who had struggled to engage with reading all year. After weeks of encouragement and trying different strategies, they finally raised their hand to read aloud. That moment — simple as it was — affirmed for me that teaching is exactly where I belong. I had so many opportunities to cultivate a safe, respectful, and intellectually curious environment, where every student felt they had something valuable to contribute.
My number one goal is to be a steady, supportive presence for students during this important time of change. I want to continue fostering not just academic growth, but also modeling compassion, resilience, and curiosity.
Thank you again for your time today and for the important work you do to shape the future of education. I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned, and how this experience has confirmed that teaching is not just a career path for me — it’s a calling.
Best,
Elizabeth Connelly
