Braydon Conaway has started his first year teaching at Baldwin Junior High School. He is teaching 8th grade social studies. During his senior year at Baker University, Conaway was a student teacher in 7th grade social studies.
Q: Have you enjoyed teaching ay BJHS so far?
“Yes, I have enjoyed teaching at Baldwin Junior High School. I am actually teaching the same students that I had last year from student teaching. It has been a very unique experience coming into my first year already having relationships established and students that I have already taught in the past.”
Q: How long do you plan to stay at BJHS?
“I don’t have a specific timeline at the moment. I have really enjoyed the community and don’t see any reason to leave anytime soon!”
Q: Do you have any specific goals for your teaching career?
“As far as goals go in my teaching career, I think that I’d be cool to go into different grade levels and have the opportunity to teach different ages and different areas of history/social studies. I also haven’t completely shut down the idea of going into administration later down the road.”
Q: Have you always been interested in teaching, specifically social studies?
“I haven’t been interested in teaching until I got to college. I have worked with different age levels and have always worked with kids of different ages and really enjoyed it. I went into college thinking I would find something in the business that interested me, but once I took an introduction to education and worked as a paraeducator at Baldwin High School, I knew that this was the right career for me!”
Q: What made you want to teach? Was there a specific moment?
“Not a specific moment, but being able to help and assist others, while also building relationships with different students really benefited me and my decision to teach.”
Q: Where did you go to college?
“Baker University.”
Q: What was your major?
“Secondary education and History.”
Q: Do you enjoy interacting with students all day?
“Yes, although it can be tiring at times because sometimes you aren’t in the “social” or talkative mood, it is always a joy being able to interact with students! That is another thing that led me to this profession. Knowing that I wouldn’t have to be stuck behind a desk all day, but instead interacting and engaging with students.”