Shalonda Owens

Shalonda Owens isn't a writer by trade. She' s an elementary teacher

With a story to tell.

few months ago, Owens sent me an e-mail after
...
Owens offered a submission. "My favorite part about teaching is June, July and August," Owens wrote. Oh, no, I thought. She's going to tell me how she loves summer because she isn't teaching. That she doesn't have to deal with the heavy demands of her principal or parents, constant questions from children, or the never- ending to-do list that probably keeps her up late at night the rest of the year. Boy was I wrong. What unfolded was a wonderful essay from a teacher who spends her summers teaching children of migrant workers. As it turns out, Owens loves her summer months because she's doing what she loves-teaching. I spent half a day with Owens this summer, joining her and her students on a feld trip to a farm where many of her students' parents work. When I met her, Owens told me that teaching was only part of her summer agenda. She was taking college classes, too, working toward her master's degree. "Pile it on," she said. "I'm always busy."
...
Teacher Shalonda Owens accompanied students to Zelenka Nursery in

Editor's note: Shalonda Owens isn't a writer by trade. She's an elementary teacher. With a story to tell.
...
Shalonda Owens
...
Shalonda Owens is a teacher at Great Lakes Elementary School in the West Ottawa Public Schools.

>

Over the summer, teacher Shalonda Owens worked in the Migrant Education Program.

>

Teacher Shalonda Owens accompanied her students on a field trip to a nursery where many of their parents worked, part of a lesson to help students understand their family heritage.

Editor's note: Shalonda Owens isn't a writer by trade. She's an elementary teacher. With a story to tell. MEA - MEA Voice - October 2008

MEA: Michigan Education Association
...
Editor's note: Shalonda Owens isn't a writer by trade. She's an elementary teacher.
...
Shalonda Owens isn't a writer by trade. She's an elementary teacher. With a story to tell. Template Photo

Teacher Shalonda Owens accompanied students to Zelenka Nursery in Grand Haven, where many of their parents worked during the summer.

A few months ago, Owens sent me an e-mail after reading a feature in the MEA Voice that we call "Generation Next. It's a column written by and for MEA members who are in their first five years of teaching. It's one of my favorite parts of the magazine.

We regularly solicit members to write the column and Owens offered a submission.

"My favorite part about teaching is June, July and August," Owens wrote.

Oh, no, I thought. She's going to tell me how she loves summer because she isn't teaching. That she doesn't have to deal with the heavy demands of her principal or parents, constant questions from children, or the neverending to-do list that probably keeps her up late at night the rest of the year.

Boy was I wrong.

What unfolded was a wonderful essay from a teacher who spends her summers teaching children of migrant workers. As it turns out, Owens loves her summer months because she's doing what she loves-teaching.

I spent half a day with Owens this summer, joining her and her students on a field trip to a farm where many of her students' parents work. When I met her, Owens told me that teaching was only part of her summer agenda. She was taking college classes, too, working toward her master's degree.

"Pile it on," she said. "I'm always busy."

Editor's note: Shalonda Owens isn't a writer by trade. She's an elementary teacher.

Editor's note: Shalonda Owens isn't a writer by trade. She's an elementary teacher. With a story to tell.