CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–December 17, 2015. New Roosevelt University graduate Jill Arkin is following in the footsteps of two of her children, who went to college to become teachers.
The 48-year-old Arlington Heights resident, who graduated from Roosevelt earlier this month, received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and did her student teaching at Hoover Math and Science Academy in Schaumburg. She also received an endorsement in English as a Second Language while at Roosevelt’s Schaumburg Campus.
“Jill Arkin is a very special student – an adult learner who hasn’t been afraid to try new techniques and teaching methods,” said Margaret Policastro, a Roosevelt professor of elementary education and one of Arkin’s mentors.
“I love that she went back to school when her youngest child was at the point of entering college. You have to admire her for deciding to make this kind of career goal for herself later in life,” said Policastro.
A stay-at-home mom for many years and a part-time teacher’s aide at a Wheeling, Ill., suburban school when the recent recession hit, eliminating her aide’s job, Arkin decided in the fall of 2013 that she wanted to get a college degree.
Nearly 30 years ago, Arkin had begun college as an elementary education major, but left college to have four children, including her two eldest who are teachers.
“My original major was elementary education and I decided to go to Roosevelt’s Schaumburg Campus because of the elementary education program and its convenience,” said Arkin, who believes the ESL endorsement will help with educating the suburbs’ increasingly diverse groups of children, many who know English as a second language.
“It was a bit of a challenge at first for me to go back to school, but I found Roosevelt’s Schaumburg Campus to be friendly to adult learners,” said Arkin, who had to become accustomed to new technologies and had to re-learn how to write lengthy essays and college papers.
“Jill was both conscientious and a quick learner. She never missed a deadline and she always put her students first,” said Policastro. “She will make an excellent teacher and will be someone who school principals look for. She is mature and is someone who understands and can work closely with parents and children.”
Source: www.roosevelt.edu
