Interview with Tyler Puryear

Tyler Puryear, a James Patterson Scholar at Towson University, began his teacher preparation in August 2013. These are his reflections after completing one and one half semesters of study.

Mr. Puryear, this is a very busy part of the semester for you. I know that.

So we're really appreciative that you took the time to come in and talk to us a little bit about your interest and your intent to become a teacher and your choice of Towson University for your preparation.

I think a good place to begin is probably in the beginning. So if you would, would you tell us a little bit about your early, excuse me, social context, where you were born and where you grew up?

I was born in Frederick, Maryland. I lived there my whole life. I lived in, I mean, different parts of Frederick growing up because we moved around Frederick.

But I mean, that's where I grew up for my life. And then I've been there since and then came here and... Ok. So you did all your schooling in Frederick? Yes. Absolutely.

And as you were going through school, what kinds of thoughts were you having about what you might do as a career? To be 100% honest, being a teacher never really crossed my mind until, like, the

end of high school. Really? I always wanted, I considered being, like, a vet for a while. And then considered something in, like, law enforcement for, like, the longest time.

And I was really leaning towards that. And my high school had a teaching academy program. And one of my friends was, she had wanted to be a teacher and I had, like, all my classes done for senior year.

So I didn't really have, like, anything, like, I needed to take. And she convinced me just to, like, sign up for it, just to do it, I mean, like, to see where it went and after being in that and student teaching, I'm like, I actually really liked it.

And that's when I kind of, like, decided I really did want to be a teacher. Wow. Tell us a little bit about the teacher academy.

What did that involve? Did you take classes or... You can... At my school, you could do it for... You had to be at least a junior. You could do it your junior year and senior.

I just did it my senior year. It was, like, first semester we were in, like, just like a class. It was, like, a basic, like, introduction to teaching and

education class. And then after you completed that class, then we had, like, the next semester you could begin student teaching. And I did my student teaching at one of the elementary schools

that I went to. Really? I actually, the teacher I taught with, her daughter was in my grade as well.

So I had already known her. That's why I picked to teach with her just because I knew her fairly well. And what grade was that?

I taught third grade. Third grade. And how much, how often were you there? I was there every day. Really?

Wow. For how long a period? Because I had, for the teaching academy program, you had to have at least I think it was like two periods of teaching.

So I had, I would be at, like, the high school, like, with, like, regular classes for, like, the first two periods of the day. And then after that I would leave and go to elementary school for the rest of the day.

So like half of the day. Wow. So, and what did student teaching involve? A lot of it was just, like, helping out, like grading at

first because, like, I didn't really know the kids. And then, like, as the, like, semester went on, like, I taught a lot. I was there for most of, like, their, like, language arts time

and part of their math time. So, like, we had, like, a requirement of, like, lesson plans and, like, things we had to do. So then, I mean, after a while it just kind of became, like,

normal just to walk in and just start, like, teaching and taking over. That's pretty special. So what are you thinking?

I mean, at some point are you saying, hey, I really like this? I mean, like, I think going into the program I kind of started to really think about it and I started realizing, like, I kind of did want to be a teacher.

And then when I started student teaching, I definitely knew, like, I wanted to be elementary school teacher. Wow. And that's nice.

We don't have enough men in elementary ed. So. And what did you think of the kids, third graders? It was a lot different.

It was actually kind of, like, nice and refreshing from, like, going from, like, being in high school for, like, the first half of the day and then, like, being around, like, a bunch of, like, 8-year- olds and 9-year-olds.

I mean, they are a lot of fun to be around. And it was a lot... It was really interesting because I mean, like, like you said, there isn't very many, like, male elementary school teachers.

And I think out in, like, for, like, the third grade, there was, like, no, like, they were all female. And I think, like, and just in the school in general, there was, like, very few males.

So, like, especially a lot of, like, the boy students, like, drew to me, like, very quickly and, like, rather than, like, any of the other teachers. That's neat.

Did you find any subjects that you like teaching better than others? Just because of, like, the difference in, like, schedules between, like, my day and their day.

I wasn't generally there for, like, their science or social studies part of their days, but I was there for, like, I was always there for their language arts part of the day, part of math.

I mean, I liked it, like, teaching, like, any of them. I mean, wasn't that much of a difference to me. So you've had this experience and you're thinking about college and why did you choose Towson University?

Originally I was not planning on... I was planning on, like, applying to Towson. I wasn't really planning on going.

I was looking into other schools like University of Delaware and other places, but they were very, very expensive. And I really started looking into the education program here and I read, like, a lot about it.

And how it's supposed to be, like, one of the, like, best education programs in Maryland. And especially after I visited, I just really liked, like the city area and, like, the area that it's located in.

So you applied and you got accepted and now you are part of a very special program, which is a James Patterson Scholar. And that's because James Patterson's mother was a teacher and he wanted to give some financial support to young folks

that were interested in a teaching career. So that was a very nice honor as well for you. And that's one of the reasons we're interviewing you today.

Well, what will, what else would I like you to talk about? Ah, I know. Other than the teacher academy that you participated in, did you have teachers that influenced you and you thought might have helped you make the decision to go into

teaching? In high school, I mean, I don't really remember, like, any, like, teachers in, like, middle school or, like, elementary school really, like, standing out more.

In high school I had like three different teachers that, like, really, like, stood out to me and, like, kind of, like, helped me, like, go down the path of teaching. The teacher that I had teaching Academy with was, like, one of the

sweetest women ever and seeing, like, her dedication and, like, everything she would do for students kind of, like, influenced that and then my senior year math teacher think was a huge, huge influence on me.

Even though she was, like, a high school teacher, her classroom, like, the way she would, like, talk to students was kind of, like, more, like, laid back and, like, very, like, personal, like, she, like, made relationships with students.

I mean, I still keep in touch with her some now. And then my photography teacher also in high school, she just, like... The three of them just kind of, like, stood out with, like, how, like, they, like, talked to me and, like, viewed me.

They didn't really, like, treat me like I was just, like, some student, like, all three of them know, like, a lot about, like, my personal life and, like, I would talk to them more on, like, a like, I don't, like, relationship level, like, not just, like,

them just being teachers to me. Well, and I think that's one of the things that you wrote about in your application is that they were sort of interested in the whole you, not just the academic piece.

And maybe that was an influence as well. Tell me a little bit about what you have done so far at Towson University. What kind of coursework have you had so far and how is that kind

of influencing this choice that you've made? Last semester I didn't really have, like, any... I didn't have any education classes. They were all just, like, regular, like Gen

Eds. And then this semester I have two, like, a regular education class and a special education class. So really like those.

The Gen Eds... I mean, Gen Eds aren't exactly the most fun classes to be in. Well, it depends. Sometimes they make people decide, oh, this is a possible

career. So I've, and then the math classes I've taken because in, like, education program, their math classes you have to take are more, like, directed towards, like, how to teach math.

And those have been interesting because, like, the way you have to, like, go about thinking things and, like, solving problems is kind of very interesting. So how about that special education course?

That class is really interesting. I'm doing the dual elementary and special education certification. In high school I volunteered for the extended school year program for the

elementary school I taught at, like, over the summer working with the kids in special ed there. And I really like that. That's what... At first I was just doing it just to fill time and

figured it would look really good on a, like, application and resume. And then, and I'm just working with, like, those kids made me, like, decide that I did want to, like, be able to be in special

education as well. And what kinds of exceptionalities, disabilities, did those children have? Was that... Some of them had autism and just other, like, learning disabilities.

One... We generally kind of, like, paired up with, I mean, there was just, like, six or seven kids and all, like, myself and, like, the other volunteers, we kind of, like, paired up with, like, a specific kid for, like, the program.

And the kid that I was paired up with, he was autistic and I actually knew him because his dad is my boss at work, at home. So it was interesting working with those kids because I had never really been, like, around any people who had autism

before. And it was just, like, a really, like, interesting and, like, a great experience. And that introduction to elementary ed course, what

has that presented you with? Well, it's, I think it's education 2O2. So, like, the introduction to, like, urban school settings. And that's been interesting because in Frederick, the part

of Frederick I grew up in was Brunswick and Jefferson area, which is kind of a lot... It's very a rural area. And learning about, like, things that go on in, like, urban

schools, is a lot different than, like, anything I experienced in school. Have you had an opportunity to go into any schools yet and observe kids or teachers?

We had to do an observation for my special ed class. I just went to my high school because I was, like, home one weekend and I knew one of the teachers. So I haven't really been in, like, any, like, urban schools here per

se. But that was with kids with special needs. The observation. It didn't have to, it wasn't, it didn't have to be. I see. Just, like, a regular, like, classroom observation.

Well, after the coursework that you have done to date, has that changed at all kind of where you'd like your emphasis to be, do you think, in teaching? Not really. The different classes I've taken, I've kind of,

like, learned more about, like, guidance counselors and I've considered trying to, like, add, like, a minor or something just to become, like, so I can be a guidance counselor. I haven't really, like, decided necessarily, but that's been,

like, a huge thought. But I've still wanted to stick with elementary and special education. And sort of the same grade level? Yeah, I kind of, I really liked the third grade level.

That's, I mean, that's really, like, the only one I was exposed to, but... So that's a still a strong possibility. And what are your plans in terms of getting more experience with kids?

This summer, I'm going to volunteer for the extended school year program while I'm home. I was going to apply...

There is, like, a daycare center that got built in, like, the town that I live in. I was going to apply to go to that, but I am studying abroad fall semester and I found out that their semester starts, like,

earlier on in the summer. So I wasn't able to do that this summer, but... Wow. So tell us about this fall adventure. I'm going to Australia and it's Queensland in Australia.

It's on the Towson program there at University of the Sunshine Coast and it's for their fall semester starts at the end of, like, July and then goes towards, like, beginning, middle of, like, November.

And what do you know about this program? Not a whole lot much. I mean, like, I'm accepted and, like, enrolled and, like, everything's, like, set to go.

How'd you get involved with even the notion of doing this? I think there was, like, a flyer or something about studying abroad and, like, I considered it. It was over winter break when I

really started thinking about it. And originally I was just going to go for, like, a summer program. It's like a month long and then I was originally

planning I wanted to go to Italy, but then I kind of started thinking about it more and, like, I don't really know Italian that well. So I didn't really want to be in a country where I can't speak

really to just anyone. And then financially I really started looking at it because the summer programs you can't use, like, your normal aid that you get.

And then when I kind of, like, decided thinking about, like, Australia because they speak English. And I started looking into, like, this semester long and, like, looking into, like, if I could, like, do that with all the

classes I have to take. That's a good question. And have you checked that out? And if it's going to work, I can, I still have a few Gen

Eds I can take while I'm there. And then I'm just taking, like, two classes online, like, this summer beforehand. I see.

So this is going to be a great adventure and it'll be interesting to see what their education system is like. Yeah. So one of the women that I interviewed actually, she's a

stay-at-home mom with a one year old right now, did her student teaching semester in Australia. No, she was in New Zealand, not too far away and she said that was a really wonderful experience and that the

educational, yes, they do speak English, but the educational system, she said, is different. And so she really appreciated that point of comparison. So we can hope that you have the same great experience that she

did. That would be wonderful. I just want to make certain that you had checked this out with an advisor to make certain you can do everything to complete your program.

Yeah, it was kind of confusing with classes, especially because in there, like, all of their classes are four credits and so you either, study abroad students for this program,

you either take three or four classes there. And I do have a few Gen Eds I can take while I'm there, which works out. And then I just have to take, like, two online classes, like, this

summer and then, like, I'll still be, like, on track. So well, we hope you return, that things aren't so wonderful there that you decide to stay down under as they say. That would be great.

Anything else that you'd like to share with us? Nothing I can really think of. No other influences in your life or... I mean, I think, like, all my teachers that I've had, like, at any point or another have

kind of, like, influenced me just, like, seeing, like, their teaching style and, like, how they teach and, like, I've always wanted to do in, like, some, like, profession where, like, I can, like, help people and, like, I really, like, I never really thought about, like,

how, like, much teachers really do help their students. But, like, after student teaching, like, I just, teachers, like, make, like, the biggest differences in, like, kids' lives, especially in, like, elementary school level.

Absolutely. Well, I think that's a noble aspiration is to make differences in the lives of children. And so we wish you the best of luck with this and really

appreciate the fact that you came in and had a conversation with us. Thank you.