MORE ABOUT JACQUELINE
Graduation Date: June 2008
Hometown: Deerfield, Illinois
Undergraduate School: Bradley University
Awards & Achievements:
- Owner/director of Skyline Studios, Inc.
- District 39 Educational Foundation Grant Recipient (Disability Awareness Week)
- Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
- Graduated with honors Bradley University
- Academic scholarship recipient for highest GPA in major at Bradley
- Study Abroad in London, England
Current Employment:
- Skyline Studios Children’s Theater
- Wilmette District 39
Jacqueline Heinemann
Area of Study:Teaching and Learning
I chose my area of study because... I wanted to give back to students. I had some very special teachers and mentors; I wanted to provide that special relationship to my students. I have a passion for teaching, to empower students to do whatever they put their minds to.
The learning environment here at DePaul is... inviting, diverse and professional. The students attending DePaul are eager to learn, and have so much experience to share. Most faculty members bring wonderful field experiences to the classroom, providing quality instruction. The learning environment maintains a professional atmosphere while also providing a friendly and nurturing environment.
My favorite professors at DePaul are... Dr. Ivy Sukenik and Dr. Richard Carpenter. These two professors have real world experiences to bring to their students here at DePaul. They both work or have worked in the specific areas they are teaching, and both make learning innovative and applicable to future teachers. Dr. Sukenik and Dr. Carpenter are wonderful — the most wonderful professors — and DePaul is fortunate to have them!
The class I most enjoyed here was... the Philosophy and Psychology of Middle Level Education with Dr. Carpenter. This class was so informative and taught me so many tools to use in my classroom. Dr. Carpenter provided his students with a "bag of tricks" that we could use in our own classrooms. The class was enjoyable to attend and extremely informative for teachers. We really were able to get into the minds of middle school students.
When I have free time, I like to... see live music, attend plays, travel and enjoy the dining here in Chicago. I also love to direct shows for my students in Skyline Studios Children’s Theatre.
Here, the diversity of students, faculty and staff... creates a quality learning environment. Students come from all over the Chicagoland area. Students come from many different fields, providing so much to offer in this program.
The greatest thing about going to school in Chicago is... the connections and networking opportunities with different schools in the city and surrounding suburbs.
DePaul's graduate School of Education program is unique compared to other schools I considered attending because... I did an extensive search at all of the teacher preparation programs in the area, providing initial certification and a master’s degree in Education. After really researching all of the programs, I did feel DePaul had the best program for me. The completion time is appealing while other schools seemed a bit longer. This program caters to the working professional, where everyone is in the same boat together, working full time and attending graduate school. DePaul also has unique partnerships with various schools in Chicago Public Schools. DePaul is a very diverse school, where the multiculturalism is apparent. This is critical in today’s multicultural learning environment when teaching.
One of the most important factors for me when choosing a graduate program was... location. DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus is convenient and central. Many other schools have you drive to different locations in the suburbs and the city, changing every quarter. DePaul is a solid, reputable university. Many of the other university programs had cohorts, which sometimes would go and sometimes would not go. DePaul’s presence in the academic world is very reassuring when looking for a graduate school program and beyond.
After graduation, I plan... on becoming a middle school or junior high teacher, teaching language arts or social studies and incorporating the arts in the content areas. I also plan on continue directing Skyline Studios Children’s Theater, providing quality fine arts instruction to students on the North Shore.
The one thing I’d like to say to students considering DePaul... This is a quality university with a very strong name. DePaul is a strong university in general, not just focusing on one specific area. Be your own advocate is my piece of advice for anyone attending graduate school!
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