Hanna King ’22 originally chose Shenandoah University because of its exceptional physician assistant studies program, but quickly realized it wasn’t right for her. King decided to look into education as a career field and the rest was history. “I went out on a limb and took an education class, after several mentors encouraged me to try it, and I instantly loved it,” said King.
Some of King’s fondest memories at Shenandoah were attending education development experiences with her closest friends and all the athletic sporting events the university had to offer. During her time at the university, she was also a member of the Student Virginia Education Association.
King is a third grade teacher at Stonewall Elementary School in Clearbrook, Virginia. In her position, she teaches 19 students in all subjects. The most rewarding part of King’s job is the students’ excitement and engagement in every lesson. She couldn’t imagine another job that’s more rewarding than being a teacher.
“It is my responsibility to ensure these students gain the academic knowledge needed for this year, while also teaching and nurturing responsibility, respect, and individuality,” said King. “It is my top priority to foster a healthy and impactful learning experience in my classroom.”
King believes that the training she gained at Shenandoah helped shape her into the teacher she has become today. She not only received her degree, but she also had the opportunity to take curriculum classes, have in-classroom experiences and attend conferences at Shenandoah.
King’s advice to current and future students is: “Teaching is a very difficult job, but the reward of being with students and watching them grow BECAUSE of you will always be worth it.”