Amanda is the Educator Academy Coordinator for the CTE program. She works with high school juniors and seniors throughout the West Shore ESD.
Because of this she's able to see the fruits of her labor.
Amanda enjoys planting the seeds, sprinkling in motivation, and nurturing a vibrant pipeline of energetic future teachers who will each have their own positive impacts for generations to come.
"I love seeing the kids in action working with students and discovering the joys of teaching," Amanda said.
Educator Academy students acquire hands-on teaching experience by working with elementary and middle school children in the ESD's three-county region.
Amanda connects her students with the curriculums used in schools and acquaints them with the variety of learning styles they'll see in real-world classrooms.
"My main goal is to expose students to what it's like being a teacher," Amanda said. "And I find it rewarding to watch them grow and get excited about becoming future teachers."
Along with building their skills in instructional practices and classroom management, students in the Educator Academy can also earn certifications in CPR and First Aid.
The West Shore ESD created the CTE Educator Academy to address the area's teacher shortage and Amanda has been its coordinator for 10 years.
Before taking on this role, Amanda taught high school math and English at Mason County Eastern.
She received her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University with a major in math and minor in English.
Amanda then received her teaching certificate and master's degree in curriculum and instruction at Ferris State.
She and her husband, Robert, have been married 24 years and have four children.