WIU . . . New Zealand . . . CPS

The hours in the air were many, but the end destination was fantastic. Shane Green, Kinesiology major, spent the Fall 2006 semester studying courses in religion, history, and Chinese culture at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Shane found the professors to be very helpful. The classes (60 students average) were interesting and very challenging. The grading scale was on the 10-point system. One of his professors Shane Green was from Wales and knew every student’s name by the third time the class met. When he traveled during the weekend, he found the local people to be very friendly and helpful. He also discovered a focus on environmentalism among the people of New Zealand.

A quick change of geography in January 2007 brought Shane to Hitch Elementary, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where he completed a student teaching assignment in physical education. At Hitch, he experienced a diverse student population in grade levels K-8. He found his mentor teacher, Keith Knapcik, to be a great example of a highly effective educator. Mr. Knapcik is retiring, and Shane will be teaching at Hitch in that position beginning Fall 2007. Shane graduated from Maine West High School in Des Plaines. What a great year it has been, from WIU to New Zealand to CPS. The journey continues.