My name is Brent Martin and I currently am a Lead Preschool Teacher at Butler EduCare Learning Lab in El Dorado, KS. I am currently a student at Butler Community College working towards my Associates of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education.
I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher, and for quite some time my focus was on music education. This whole idea came about after I entered the 7th grade. Music had always been a passion of mine and was something at which I excelled. I had a great teacher, Ms. Williams, who showed me what a difference I could make as a music teacher. After spending my junior high and high school days devoted to my high school music program, I got a scholarship to Butler CC for vocal music. I continued to follow that music education path. After Butler I spent one semester at Emporia State where I realized that music education was no longer my chosen career path.
Following my semester at ESU I moved back home and began subbing as a para at my hometown elementary school. There I realized that teaching and working with children was definitely a passion of mine, and even though it wasn’t going to be teaching music, I could still see myself as a classroom teacher. I was able to get into the Head Start program and once I started working with the 3-5 year olds, my passion was found! I spent 2 years in Head Start as an assistant teacher and 4 years in the school system as a para.
I think that something that I bring to the field of early childhood and teaching is my gift of organization and planning. I also value a sense of community and learning in the classroom, even at a young age. I want to help children create a solid foundation for learning throughout their lives.
I have just recently completed my Associates in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education. My immediate goal is to continue on with my Bachelor’s degree. I hope to continue and get my Master’s degree. It would be great to some day teach college level classes in early childhood education. What better way to pass on the skills and knowledge that I have and will continue to gain.
I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher, and for quite some time my focus was on music education. This whole idea came about after I entered the 7th grade. Music had always been a passion of mine and was something at which I excelled. I had a great teacher, Ms. Williams, who showed me what a difference I could make as a music teacher. After spending my junior high and high school days devoted to my high school music program, I got a scholarship to Butler CC for vocal music. I continued to follow that music education path. After Butler I spent one semester at Emporia State where I realized that music education was no longer my chosen career path.
Following my semester at ESU I moved back home and began subbing as a para at my hometown elementary school. There I realized that teaching and working with children was definitely a passion of mine, and even though it wasn’t going to be teaching music, I could still see myself as a classroom teacher. I was able to get into the Head Start program and once I started working with the 3-5 year olds, my passion was found! I spent 2 years in Head Start as an assistant teacher and 4 years in the school system as a para.
I think that something that I bring to the field of early childhood and teaching is my gift of organization and planning. I also value a sense of community and learning in the classroom, even at a young age. I want to help children create a solid foundation for learning throughout their lives.
I have just recently completed my Associates in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education. My immediate goal is to continue on with my Bachelor’s degree. I hope to continue and get my Master’s degree. It would be great to some day teach college level classes in early childhood education. What better way to pass on the skills and knowledge that I have and will continue to gain.