Hi! My name is Tiffany Johnson and I am 21 years old. I am from Grayslake, IL and I went to Warren Township High School in Gurnee. I have one older brother, Kevin, who is literally my biggest (maybe only? ha!) fan and one of my best friends. Even though he is 7 years older than I am, I am lucky to be so close with him!
My brother is actually one of the many reasons why I decided to become a teacher. As a little kid, I watched him struggle through his high school classes without the proper help or with teachers who seemed to care very little about the individual success of their students. When I got older and went to high school myself, I found that this was a very common occurrence with students who were not understanding the material or not self-motivated. During my Junior year of high school, I was taking an AP American Literature course and was completely taken aback by my teacher. For the first time in a long time, I was taking a class with a teacher who I felt was genuinely interested in the materials he was teaching and the success of each of his students. He transformed the classroom and the learning experience into something that was so interactive and engaging. After that class, I was inspired to become a teacher like that - someone who challenges students to reach their utmost potential and gives them the resources and support to do so in a safe, fun, and engaging atmosphere.
Here at Illinois State University, I am a Junior and am currently majoring in English Education. I will also have endorsements in TESOL and Middle Level Education by the time I graduate. I am also actively involved in Phi Sigma Sigma, a social sorority,; Kappa Delta Epsilon, a Honorary Education Fraternity,; and various volunteer opportunities around campus, such as Partners in Reading at the Normal Public Library. I have held positions on the executive board of both Phi Sigma Sigma and Kappa Delta Epsilon and am currently the Vice President for Kappa Delta Epsilon.
On a more personal note, I actively practice yoga daily and I am learning how to meditate. I also enjoy doing various arts and crafts projects - in my free time, it is not uncommon for my friends to find me searching Pinterest for new projects or organizational ideas for my future classrooms!
Overall, I'm just a Mid-West, Suburban girl trying to make a place for myself in the world. =)
